CBSE Class 9 Answered
Meristematic cells are actively dividing cells. They have dense cytoplasm, thin cellulose walls and prominent nuclei. Vacuoles are small or absent.
Vacuoles are important in space filling, osmotic adjustment and storage. Also, in permanent plant cells, the vacuoles are important to carry out elongation of cells and maintain the shape of the cells. These functions of vacuoles are important in mature plant cells but not in meristematic cells. In meristematic cells, the main function of the cell is to divide rapidly; They do not store reserve food and are in active state of metabolism. Also they have small sizes to divide quickly. So the function of vacuoles is not important here.