FFA Horticulture CDE General Practice Exam

What defines an annual plant?

1. Lives for multiple years

2. Completes its life cycle in one year

3. Remains dormant for a season

4. Requires two growing seasons to mature

The correct answer is: Completes its life cycle in one year

An annual plant is defined by its life cycle, which is completed within a single year. This means that it grows from seed, flowers, produces seeds, and dies within one growing season, typically in less than twelve months. This efficient life cycle allows annual plants to take advantage of favorable growing conditions, reproduce quickly, and disperse their seeds before the onset of adverse conditions. Other options describe different types of plants. Perennials, for example, live for multiple years, often entering a dormant phase during unfavorable seasons, which would not apply to annuals. Similarly, biennials require two growing seasons to mature and complete their life cycle, starting from seed in the first year and flowering in the second. The definition of an annual is specific to its one-year life cycle, making it a distinct category in the plant world.