LIFE: SIMPLE AND COMPLEX

PLANT TISSUES

Plant Tissues

Depending upon the dividing capacity of cells, plant tissues can be classified as, 1. Meristematic tissue, 2. Permanent tissue.

Meristematic Tissues
Structure:

1.These are composed of cells that are dividing continuously 2.The cells are spherical, oval, polygonal or rectangular. 3.The cell wall is thin and made up of cellulose. 4.The cells are closely arranged without inter-cellular spaces. 5.Cytoplasm is abundant and nuclei are large. 6.Vacuoles are absent and if present, very few.
Occurrence:
tip showing meristematic tissue (a) stem apex and (b) root

1.Found in growing tips of root and shoot. 2.Found in the vascular cambium of dicot trees just beneath the bark. They are

responsible for the increase in diameter of the stem.

Function:

1.The main function of meristematic tissue is to continuously form a number

of new cells and help in growth.

2. Permanent tissue
These tissues are derived from meristematic tissues. They have lost the power of dividing, having attained their definite form

and size. In their earlier stages the cells are more or less similar in structure but slowly they become specialized and form permanent tissues. They can be classified into: 1.simple permanent tissue and 2.complex permanent tissue

Simple permanent tissue

A simple tissue is made up of one type of cells forming a uniform

mass. There are six types of simple tissues classified on the basis of their functions:
1.Parenchyma 3.Sclerenchyma 5. Chlorenchyma 2.Collenchyma 4. Aerenchyma 6. Surface tissue

1.Parenchyma
Nature:

1.Cells are isodiametric i.e. equally expanded on all sides. 2.They may be oval, round, polygonal or elongated. 3.Nucleus is present and hence living. 4.The cell walls are thin and made of cellulose. 5.Cytoplasm is dense with a single large vacuole.

6.Intercellular spaces may be present.

7.May contain chlorophyll. Parenchyma which contain chlorophyll are called chlorenchyma.
Occurrence:

1.Found in the cortex of root, ground tissue in stems and mesophyll of leaves.
Function:

1.Store and assimilate food 2.Give mechanical strength by maintaining turgidity 3.Prepare food if chlorophyll is present 4.Store waste products like tannin, gum, crystals and resins

2.Collenchyma
Nature:

1.Cells are isodiametric i.e. equally expanded on all sides. 2.They may be oval, round, polygonal or elongated. 3.Nucleus is present and hence living.

4.The cell walls are thin and made of cellulose.

5.Cytoplasm is dense with a single large vacuole. 6.Intercellular spaces may be present. 7.May contain chlorophyll. Parenchyma which contain chlorophyll are called chlorenchyma.
Occurrence:

1.Found in the cortex of root, ground tissue in stems and mesophyll of leaves.
Function:

1.Store and assimilate food

2.Give mechanical strength by maintaining turgidity 3.Prepare food if chlorophyll is present 4.Store waste products like tanin, gum, crystals and resins

 Nature:

3.Sclerenchyma

1.The cells are long, narrow, thick and lignified, usually pointed at both ends.
2.The cell wall is evenly thickened with lignin and sometimes is so thick that the cell cavity or lumen is absent. 3.Nucleus is absent and hence the tissue is made up of dead cells. 4.They have simple often, oblique pits in the walls.

5.The middle lamella i.e. the wall between adjacent cells is conspicuous.
Occurrence:

1.Found abundantly in stems of plants like hemp, jute and coconut, their length varying from 1 mm to 550 mm.
Function:

1.Gives mechanical support to the plant by giving rigidity, flexibility and elasticity to the plant body.
Sclereids

1.These are special sclerenchymatous cells found in the cortex, pith, phloem, hard seeds, nuts and stony fruit. The flesh of the pear and guava are sometimes gritty due to the presence of selereids. These cells are very thick walled, hard and strongly lignified. They are isodiametric, polyhedral, slightly elongated or irregular in shape. 2.Their function is to give firmness and hardness to the part concerned.

4. Chlorenchyma
Chlorenchyma cells are actually parenchyma cells, but they contain

chloroplasts, e.g. the parenchyma cells of leaves and stems. The mesophyll cells of leaves can thus be regarded as chlorenchyma.
Functions:

1.the chlorenchyma are the main photosynthetic cells of the plant and manufacture carbohydrates during photosynthesis.

5. Aerenchyma
In aquatic plants the intercellular spaces forms large air cavities. They give buoyancy to plants and help then to float in water.

Such parenchyma are called aerenchyma

6. Surface Tissue
The entire surface of plant is covered by a single layer of cells called

surface tissue or epidermis. Most of the cells are flat, the outer and lateral walls of the cells are thick than the inner walls. The cells forms continuous sheet without intercellular spaces. It protects all parts of the plant.