Question

All fruit, vegetable as well as flowers have to go through a certain stage of growth and maturity in their life cycle before they can reproduce sexually. This stage is known as

• A. Precocious phase
• B. Reproductive phase
• C. Flowering phase
• D. Juvenile phase

Hint:

Think of the term "juvenile" as it applies to animals and humans—it refers to the youth or pre-adult stage. It's the same concept for plants; the juvenile phase is the period of vegetative growth before reproductive maturity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the name of the pre-reproductive stage in a plant's life cycle.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The life cycle of a plant is typically divided into two main stages:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Juvenile phase (or Vegetative phase): This is the initial period of growth after germination, during which the plant is physiologically immature and cannot reproduce sexually (i.e., it cannot produce flowers and fruits). Its energy is focused on developing roots, stems, and leaves. } \\ \bullet & \text{Reproductive phase (or Adult/Mature phase): After the juvenile phase, the plant becomes capable of sexual reproduction. This phase is often marked by the onset of flowering. The flowering phase is part of the broader reproductive phase. } \\ \end{array}\] The "precocious phase" is not a standard term; "precocious" means developing unusually early, which is an exception, not the rule.
The question describes the stage before the plant can reproduce, which is the juvenile phase.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The stage of growth before a plant can reproduce sexually is known as the Juvenile phase.