Which structure in a grass plant is responsible for new growth?

• A. Apical Bud
• B. Lateral Bud
• C. Node
• D. Leaf Blade

Answer: (A)

New growth in grasses comes from meristematic tissue at the tip of the shoot—the apical bud. This bud contains the apical meristem, a cluster of actively dividing cells that lengthen the stem and start new leaves, driving primary growth. Because the apical bud dominates growth, removing it often lets axillary (lateral) buds along the stem become active and form side shoots, but the main source of new tissue and tall growth is the apical bud. The node is simply a point on the stem where leaves attach and buds may form; it’s a structural site rather than the engine of growth. The leaf blade is the photosynthetic part of the leaf and does not generate new stem tissue.