Plant Tissue and Types

Plant Tissue

Definition

• Plant tissue is a group of similar cells that perform a specific function in a plant.

Types of Plant Tissues

1. Meristematic Tissue
   • Found in areas of growth, such as tips of shoots and roots
   • Cells are undifferentiated, able to divide and differentiate into various cell types
   • Responsible for plant growth and development
2. Permanent Tissue
   • Derived from meristematic tissue
   • Cells are differentiated, specialized for specific functions
   • Examples: parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, xylem, and phloem

Functions of Plant Tissues

Parenchyma Tissue

• Function: storage, photosynthesis, and secretion
• Characteristics: living cells, thin cell walls, able to divide
• Examples: mesophyll cells in leaves, cortex cells in stems and roots

Collenchyma Tissue

• Function: support, structure, and protection
• Characteristics: living cells, unevenly thickened cell walls, flexible
• Examples: cells in petioles, stems, and leaves

Sclerenchyma Tissue

• Function: support, protection, and structure
• Characteristics: dead cells, thick, rigid cell walls, lignified
• Examples: fibers in stems, sclereids in seeds and fruits

Xylem Tissue

• Function: water and mineral transportation
• Characteristics: dead cells, thick, lignified cell walls, tracheids and vessels
• Examples: tracheids in stems, vessels in roots and stems

Phloem Tissue

• Function: sugar and nutrient transportation
• Characteristics: living cells, thin cell walls, sieve cells and companion cells
• Examples: sieve tubes in stems, companion cells in leaves

Definition of Plant Tissue

• A group of similar cells performing specific functions in plants.

Types of Plant Tissues

Meristematic Tissue

• Located in growing regions like shoot and root tips.
• Composed of undifferentiated cells capable of division.
• Essential for ongoing plant growth and development.

Permanent Tissue

• Developed from meristematic tissue.
• Composed of specialized, differentiated cells for specific functions.
• Includes types such as parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, xylem, and phloem.

Functions of Plant Tissues

Parenchyma Tissue

• Functions in storage, photosynthesis, and secretion.
• Characterized by living cells with thin cell walls.
• Capable of cell division; examples include mesophyll cells in leaves and cortex cells in stems and roots.

Collenchyma Tissue

• Provides support, structure, and protection.
• Contains living cells with unevenly thickened, flexible cell walls.
• Found in areas such as petioles, stems, and leaves.

Sclerenchyma Tissue

• Functions in providing support, protection, and structural integrity.
• Composed of dead cells with thick, rigid, lignified cell walls.
• Examples include fibers in stems and sclereids in seeds and fruits.

Xylem Tissue

• Responsible for transporting water and minerals.
• Made up of dead cells with thick, lignified cell walls; features tracheids and vessels.
• Found in structures like tracheids in stems and vessels in roots and stems.

Phloem Tissue

• Transports sugars and nutrients throughout the plant.
• Comprises living cells with thin cell walls; consists of sieve cells and companion cells.
• Commonly found in sieve tubes within stems and companion cells in leaves.