Which roots provide support by arising from the lower nodes, such as in sugarcane and maize?

• A. Axillary Bud
• B. Nodes
• C. Pneumatophores
• D. Stilt Roots

Answer: (D)

Stilt roots are adventitious roots that arise from the stem at the lower nodes near the ground. They grow downward into the soil and form a supportive, anchor-like network that helps stabilize tall, heavy stalks like those of sugarcane and maize. This extra rooting reduces lodging and gives the plant better stability as it grows. Axillary buds are shoots that form in the leaf axil and don’t become roots. Nodes are just points on the stem where growth occurs, not a root type. Pneumatophores are specialized aerial roots used for gas exchange in flooded habitats, not for providing structural support in these crops. So the roots that provide support by arising from the lower nodes in sugarcane and maize are stilt roots.