During cell division in plant cells, which process completes the division and forms a cell plate?

• A. Telophase
• B. Cytokinesis
• C. Metaphase
• D. Anaphase

Answer: (B)

Cytokinesis is the process that completes cell division by dividing the cytoplasm. In plant cells, this happens after mitosis and starts with vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus fusing at the center to form a cell plate. The cell plate then develops into separating cell walls, splitting the cell into two daughter cells. This plate formation fits plant cells because their rigid cell walls prevent the animal-cell style cleavage furrow. By contrast, metaphase is when chromosomes align at the center, and anaphase is when sister chromatids are pulled apart toward opposite poles; telophase follows with the nuclear envelope reforming and chromosomes de-condensing. The cell plate event is the key step that finishes dividing the cytoplasm in plants.