2.
5 Plant Ultrastructure
OCR Y1 / AS Level Biology A
Module 2 Foundations in Biology
Chapter 2 Basic Components of
Living Systems
Tuesday 26 November 2024 Page 33 in the OUP
Textbook
2.5 Plant Ultrastructure
Lesson Objectives:
Learners should be able to demonstrate and apply
their knowledge and understanding of:
•The ultrastructure of plant cells and the
functions of the different cellular
components
Bell Task
• Label the
diagram of the
plant cell
• From last
lesson recap
the functions
of the
organelles
Week 2
Generalised plant cell
under the EM
What are the main
similarities and
differences between
plant and animal
cells?
Plant cells
Plant cells share all the common features of animal cells,
but also contain some additional organelles.
Plants gain all their energy from sunlight; cells in their leaves
contain many chloroplasts to convert this into a useful form.
chloroplast
vacuole
Every plant cell is
surrounded by a cell
wall, and contains
one or more
cell wall
permanent vacuoles.
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Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts use carbon dioxide, water and light energy to
build sugars. They are present in all green plants.
The chloroplast is surrounded by a double membrane. It is
filled with a liquid called the stroma, and contains stacks
of thylakoid membranes called grana.
grana
stroma
thylakoid membrane
The thylakoid membranes are the site of photosynthesis.
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Chloroplasts
Vacuoles
Permanent vacuoles only exist in plant cells. Animal cells
can contain temporary vacuoles but they are not common
features.
A vacuole consists of a
membrane called the
tonoplast, filled with cell
sap – a watery solution
of different substances,
including sugars,
enzymes and pigments.
The vacuole is important in keeping the cell firm. When the
vacuole is full of sap the cell is said to be turgid.
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The cell wall
The cell wall of a plant cell gives it support and structure.
It is made of the polysaccharide cellulose, and can function
as a carbohydrate store by varying the amount of cellulose
it holds.
The cell wall does not seal
off a cell completely from its
neighbours. There are
pores within the walls called
plasmodesmata. These
connect two cells together
by their cytoplasm, enabling
the exchange and transport
of substances.
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Review Questions
Complete the
exam question
on the sheet
Tuesday 26 November 2024
2.5 Plant Ultrastructure
Back to the Objectives…
Lesson Objectives:
Learners should be able to demonstrate and apply
their knowledge and understanding of:
•The ultrastructure of plant cells and the
functions of the different cellular
components
