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Plant Tissues and Cells

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70 views3 pages

Plant Tissues and Cells

12345

Uploaded by

Sheryl Lou Angeles
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Plant Tissues and Cells

All living organisms are composed of cells, and are called unicellular when they are composed of a
single cell or multicellular, when they have more than one cell. A plant is composed of millions of
cells, organized into tissues (similar cells grouped together) and organs (different tissues grouped
together). All living cells have common structures like the cell membrane, cytoplasm or ribosomes.
Some groups of organisms have certain characteristics in their cells that are unique. Plant cells, for
example, are different from animal, fungi, and bacteria cells. They have cell walls, a central vacuole,
and chloroplasts. Cell walls in plants are made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin, organic
compounds called polysaccharides. The function of the cell wall is to protect the cell and provide
mechanical support. A thicker cell wall provides more mechanical support and a thinner cell wall
provides flexibility. The central vacuole is essential in the regulation of the turgor pressure, which is
the pressure that liquid exerts against the cell wall (Figure 1.3.11.3.1). This internal pressure is
important for the physiology of plants because that’s how they are able to remain upright and not
wilt. Plants also have unique organelles, called plastids, that have different functions: photosynthesis
(chloroplasts), synthesis and storage of starches (amyloplasts), and synthesis of special pigments
(chromoplasts).

Plant cells are formed at meristems, and then develop into cell types which are grouped into tissues.
Plants have only three tissue types: 1) Dermal; 2) Ground; and 3) Vascular (Farabee, 2007).
1. Dermal tissue covers the outer surface of herbaceous plants. Dermal tissue is composed of
epidermal cells, closely packed cells that secrete a waxy cuticle that aids in the prevention of
water loss. Guard cells are bean-shaped cells covering the stomata opening. They regulate
exchange of water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide through the stoma

2. The ground tissue comprises the bulk of the primary plant body. Parenchyma, collenchyma, and
sclerenchyma cells are common in the ground tissue.

 Parenchyma cells are the least specialized type of plant cell and the most abundant in plants.
They are usually rounded and can be found in all plant organs. In leaves they make up the
mesophyll, where photosynthesis takes place (Chapter 4). In stems and roots they make up
the cortex, which is responsible for storing carbohydrates and other substances needed for
plants to function (Chapters 2 and 3). Parenchyma cells also participate in plant support and
the transfer of nutrients in the phloem. Parenchyma cells are the cells that divide and
produce new cells when plants are growing. Parenchyma cells make up the parenchyma
tissue.
 Collenchyma cells are elongated and provide support to growing plant organs, like leaves.
Their primary cell wall is thick, but lacks lignin, making them flexible. Collenchyma cells
group into a tissue of the same name.
 Sclerenchyma cells are thick as their cell walls contain lignin, a rigid polysaccharide. They are
mostly dead when mature, and their main function is to provide mechanical support, for
example in the stem.

3. Vascular tissue transports food, water, hormones and minerals within the plant. Vascular tissue
includes xylem, phloem and cambium cells.

Complex plant tissues are xylem, phloem, epidermis and periderm:

 Xylem is the tissue that transports water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves. It is
composed of specialized parenchyma cells, tube shaped cells called vessels and tracheids,
form long tubes for longitudinal transportation and are usually dead at maturity, and ray cells
for lateral conduction.
 Phloem is the tissue that transports the sugars produced in photosynthesis. Unlike xylem, it
is composed of live cells called sieve tube members (tube shaped cells) and companion cells,
which help control the flow of liquid on the sieve tube members.
 The cambium is a lateral meristem that produces xylem cells to one side and phloem cells to
the other to form the vascular system.
 Epidermis is usually a one cell layer on the outside of the plant tissues for protection, and
secretes a protective layer called cuticle. Different cells can be found here: parenchyma cells,
guard cells in the stomata (openings for gas exchange on leaves), trichomes (hairs), root hairs
in the roots, and glands (production of substances).
 Periderm is the outermost layer of woody plants, or outer bark. It is composed of cork cells
and lenticels, which are clusters of parenchyma cells that help bring more oxygen into the
stem.

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