Which term describes a modified shoot wherein the shoot apical meristem changes to floral meristems?

Which term describes a modified shoot wherein the shoot apical meristem changes to floral meristems?

• A. Flower
• B. Inflorescence
• C. Pedicel
• D. Bract

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how a shoot can switch from making leaves to making reproductive structures. When the shoot apical meristem reprograms to form floral meristems, it produces a single flower with its reproductive organs, and the shoot becomes determinate rather than continuing to grow vegetatively. A flower is exactly this result of the meristem changing to floral identity. This is different from an inflorescence, which is a cluster of flowers arising from a different meristem and often continues to produce flowers; a pedicel is merely the stalk that supports an individual flower; and a bract is a leaf-like structure beneath a flower.

The key idea is how a shoot can switch from making leaves to making reproductive structures. When the shoot apical meristem reprograms to form floral meristems, it produces a single flower with its reproductive organs, and the shoot becomes determinate rather than continuing to grow vegetatively. A flower is exactly this result of the meristem changing to floral identity.

This is different from an inflorescence, which is a cluster of flowers arising from a different meristem and often continues to produce flowers; a pedicel is merely the stalk that supports an individual flower; and a bract is a leaf-like structure beneath a flower.