Question

Annual rings are the bands of
A. Secondary cortex and cork
B. All secondary vascular tissue
C. Secondary xylem and xylem rays
D. Secondary phloem and medullary rays

Answer 1

Plants are affected by a number of different factors such as the environmental factors, which plays an important part in their growth and development. The climatic factors also cause to effect the trees to exhibit specialized growth and growth patterns.

Complete answer:
Annual rings are the growth layers of wood that are produced each year in the woody part of the stems and roots of the trees. The annual rings are referred to as the distinct rings of growth that appear in the woody portion of the tree as a result of the growth following a particular growth season. These rings are also known as growth rings or tree rings.
The annual rings are present in the horizontal cross sections of the tree trunk. These rings represent the growth of the tree during the growth period. The growth of the rings takes place due to the activity of the secondary xylem and xylem rays. They are responsible for the growth of annual rings in a ring or band like structure. The annual rings are produced as the wood produced by the tree for the respective growth season.
The cortex consists of the large thin-walled parenchyma cells of the ground tissues system. The outer cortical cells form the irregularly thickened cell walls. It is also called collenchyma. The cortex forms layers of cells and gives rise to the cork. The cork cambium forms the outer layer of the lateral meristem and is called the phellogen.
Secondary vascular tissues arise from the vascular cambium and are a layer of meristematic tissues that are situated between the primary xylem and phloem. It is responsible for secondary growth.
The vascular cambium forms the secondary phloem as a result of secondary growth. Medullary rays are present as circular shaped structures.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: The wood of certain trees exhibits the seasonal or annual growth in the form of bands or rings which are known as annual rings or growth rings. The growth of the rings are formed by the secondary xylem and the xylem rays. The annual rings can be used as a tool to measure the age of the trees.