Topic 4 Biodiversity and natural resources
4.1 Plant Structure
Structure of a typical plant cell
Rough ER, smooth ER and
Golgi bodies spreading
throughout cytoplasm.
Mitochondria produce ATP
for plant cell to work.
Plant cell wall
Gives plant its strength
and support
Made of insoluble cellulose
Cellulose has much in
common with starch and
glycogen
Cellulose is made up from
loing chains of glucose
joined by glycosidic bonds
Starch has a-glucose
monomer units whereas cellulose has b-glucose, held by 1,4-glycosidic
bonds
One monomer of b-glucose is turned around / inverted so bonding takes
place
The OH group that sticks out on both sides of glucose.
Hydrogen bonds can form between positive
charged H atoms and negative O atoms.
Known as cross linking holds neighbours
firmly together
Cellulose molecules do not coil or spiral, they
remain straight and long chains
Starch molecules (bonds between a-glucose
monomers) form compact globular molecules
useful for storage
Starch is an important source of energy for
animals.
Cellulose chains bundle up to form microfibrils and stuck together with
polysaccharide glue
Hemicellulose and pectins are used to hold microfibrils together
Pectins are also in the middle lamella. Found between the cell walls of
different cells.
Pectin acts as a glue that holds neighbouring cells together
Plasmodesmata
Where intercellular exchanges
take place through special
cytoplasmic bridges between
cells
Threads of cytoplasm
between cells, pass through
gaps in newly formed cells
walls and substances can
move from one cell to another
through cytoplasm
Interconnected cytoplasm is
called a symplast
Plant Cell Organelles
Vacuole
Fluid filled space inside cytoplasm surrounded by a membrane
Vacuole is permanent in plant cells.
The membrane around the vacuole is called the tonoplast
It is filled with cell sap, solution containing substances in water
Solution causes water to move into cell by osmosis, to keep cell turgid
Vacuole maintains plant shape
Also used as storage for some substances. Pigment in beetroot is stored in
vacuoles and does not leak unless root is cut
Also stores proteins in cells of seeds and fruits
Stores waste products and other chemicals
Chloroplasts
Enable plants to grow own food
Cells in seeds and flowers do not contain chloroplasts
and neither do internal cells of stem or
transport tissues
Contain own DNA
Enormously folded inner membrane
to increase surface area
Site of photosynthesis, contain
chlorophyll, green pigments responsible
for trapping the energy from light
making it available for plants to use
Made of plant stem cells called leucoplast
Amyloplasts
Develop from leucoplasts
Colourless and are used to store amylopectin, which can be converted to
glucose and used to provide energy when the cell needs it
Amyloplasts are found largely in plants that store starch e.g. potatoes
The structure of plant stems
Providing support and transport
Function of stem is to support and to hold leaves in the best position for
photosynthesis
Also support flowers that maximises likelihood of pollination occurring
Stem Tissue
Epidermis
Outer layer of stem
Protects cells inside stem
Epidermal cells secrete cutin, waxy substance which prevents
water loss from stem surface and protects entry of pathogens
Also forms hairs as an extension of cells. Hairs act as an insulating
layer trapping moist air to reduce water loss
Parenchyma
Stem made of packing tissues which consist of most common plant
cells, parenchyma
Unspecialised cells but can be modified in ways making them
suitable for storage and photosynthesis
Outer layer of parenchyma cells in the stem contain some
chloroplasts
Some parenchyma is modified into collenchyma
Collenchyma
Collenchyma have thick cell walls which are thicker in corners
Gives tissue its strength
Found on the outside of stem, inside epidermis and give plenty of
support and stretches to allow plant growth
Sclerenchyma
Another type of modified parenchyma
Develops as plant gets bigger to support increasing weight of the
upper part of plant
Found in vascular bundles in older stems and leaves
All sclerenchyma cells have strong secondary walls found in bundles
and cylinders around the outside of stem or root
Lignin is deposited in cell walls of these fibres, makes fibres strong
yet flexible
Sclerenchyma cells can be completely filled with lignin when they
form sclereids
Transport tissues in plants
Xylem
Carries water and dissolved minerals from the roots of photosynthetic
parts of the plant
Movement of xylem is upwards
Xylem made up of several different cell types which are dead
First xylem to form is called protoxylem
Capable of stretching and growing because walls are not fully lignified
The cellulose microfibrils in the walls of xylem vessels are laid down in the
stem, which increases the strength of the tube
As stem ages, cells stop growing, increasing lignin in cell walls
Cell therefore becomes impermeable to water and other substances
Tissue becomes stronger and more supportive but the cell contents die
The lignified tissue is called metaxylem
