kerato- or kerat- also cerato- or cerat- pref. 1. Horn; horny: keratosis. 2. Cornea: keratectomy. [Greek kerÄto-, horn, from keras, kerÄt-; see ker- in Indo-European roots.] kerato- or before a vowel kerat- combining form 1. indicating horn or a horny substance: keratin; keratogenous. 2. (Medicine) indicating the cornea: keratoplasty. [from Greek kerat-, keras horn] kerato- a combining form meaning âcorneaâ: keratoplasty.
Early root growth is one of the functions of the apical meristem located near the tip of the root. The meristem cells more or less continuously divide, producing more meristem, root cap cells (these are sacrificed to protect the meristem), and undifferentiated root cells.
A meristem is the tissue in most plants containing undifferentiated cells (meristematic cells), found in zones of the plant where growth can take place. Meristematic cells give rise to various organs of the plant and keep the plant growing. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) gives rise to organs like the leaves and flowers, while the root apical meristem (RAM) provides the meristematic cells for the future root growth.