What is dormancy in plants?

Dormancy in plants refers to a period when growth and development are temporarily halted, allowing them to conserve energy and survive unfavorable environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures or limited water availability. This state is often a crucial survival strategy, enabling plants to withstand periods of stress until conditions improve. During dormancy, many metabolic processes slow down, reducing the plant's need for resources and allowing it to remain viable until the right conditions for growth and development return.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent dormancy. The first option describes a time of accelerated growth, which does not align with the concept of dormancy. The third option about nutrient absorption refers to active growth phases when plants take in nutrients to support their development. The last option addresses flowering, which is a part of the reproductive cycle but does not describe the dormancy phase, where the plant is not actively growing or reproducing. Therefore, the definition of dormancy emphasizes the arrested growth as a survival mechanism, making the second option the correct choice.