Tissue: A tissue is a group of similar cells performing a specific function.
PLANT TISSUES
Plant tissues are basically of two types
A. Meristematic tissue (cells can multiply to produce new cells) .
B. Permanent tissue (non-dividing cells and specialised).
Meristematic tissue or Meristem
• Found at all growing points of a plant, such as the tips of roots, stems and branches.
• Also present between the bark and the wood of trees where it leads to growth in the
diameter of the stem.
→Chief characteristics of meristematic tissue:
(1) Cells are small.
(2) Cells are usually cubical.
(3) Cell wall is thin.
(4) Nuclei are large.
(5) Vacuoles almost absent.
(6) Cells tightly packed with almost no intercellular spaces.
(7) The cells actively divide adding new cells to the plant.
(8) New cells thus produced are transformed into Mature permanent tissues.
The meristematic tissue can be classified into 3 categories
→Apical or Terminal: This is located near the tips of roots and stems and also in the
growing young leaves near the tips of stems, as well as on the tips of axillary buds.
➔ Cambium or Lateral merstem: This is situated below the bark and is
responsible for increase in The diameter of the stem.
➔ lateral Meristem
1. This tissue is present along the side of the stem and roots of plant cambium
and cork cambium
2. It is responsible for thickness of stem or roots.
Permanent tissues are made up of cells which have lost their ability to divide. They
take a permanent shape to perform some permanent function. They may be living
(nucleus present) or dead (nucleus absent).
(a) Parenchyma
• Large thin walled cells, oval, circular or polygonal in shape.
• Usually a single large vacuole
• Found in soft parts of plants, such as in the cortex (outer region) and in the pith
(central region)
• Leaf, contain chloroplasts and are termed chlorenchyma (chloros: green).
Chlorenchyma helps the leaf to produce food by photosynthesis. Collenchyma
(collen: glue)
• Made up of cells which are elongated and the cell wall is thickened at the corners.
• It is found in the leaf stalks and below the epidermis of stems.
• The tissue helps to support the parts of a plant.
Sclerenchyma (scleros: hard)
• Composed of long, narrow cells, which have become dead; these cells develop
very thick walls due to the deposition of lignin.
• This tissue provides strength to plant parts. It is found in stems and veins of the
leaves.
Complex Tissue
Xylem:-
1. Xylem is a type of conducting tissue in plants.
2. Functions: Transport water and dissolved materials from roots to other plant parts.
3. Structure: Elongated, thick-walled cells in tubular passages.
4. Older xylem forms wood, doesn’t participate in transport.
5. Annual rings in trees indicate xylem rings, used to determine age.
6. Components: Tracheids, vessels (tracheary elements), xylem parenchyma.
Tracheids:
- Composition: Elongated dead cells with large cavities, devoid of contents.
- Structure: Arranged end to end, forming long tubes.
- Cell walls: Highly lignified for strength.
- Function: Provide mechanical support via thickening in walls
Xylem Vessels:
- Function: Transport water and dissolved minerals.
- Structure: Long tube-like structures made of elongated cells arranged end to end.
- Cell walls: Hard, thick, and lignified for strength.
- Transverse walls: Dissolve to create a continuous water pipe.
Xylem Parenchyma:
- Composition: Living parenchyma cells associated with xylem.
- Functions: Store food (sugars and starch), aid in water and mineral conduction.
Phloem Cells:
- Function: Facilitate downward movement of food from leaves and upward movement
of prepared food to growing leaves.
- Components: Sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma cells, and phloem
fibers.
NOTES BY : AYUSH DIXIT
