Plant Tissues and functions
Plant tissue is a collection of similar cells performing an organized function for the plant. Each
plant tissue is specialized for a unique purpose, and can be combined with other tissues to create
organs such as leaves, flowers, stems and roots. The following is a brief outline of plant tissues,
and their functions within the plant.
Types of Tissue in Plants
Plant tissues are of two main types: meristematic tissue and
permanent tissue.
1. Meristematic Tissue
Meristematic plant tissue is different than all other plant tissue, in that it is the main growth
tissue of the plant. All cells originate from one meristem or another.
Types of Meristematic tissues
Meristematic tissues are of three types, based on their location in plants. They are:
i. Apical Meristems: They are found at the tips of roots and stems, enabling a plant to extend in
length. It drives above ground growth, and decides the direction of the plant. Root meristems
dig into the soil in search of water and nutrients.
ii. Subapical meristems: They divide the plant and carry leaves in different directions
iii. Lateral Meristems: They are found on the lateral side of the stem and root of a plant,
facilitating growth in thickness or girth.
iv. Intercalary Meristems: They occur only at the bases of leaf blades and nodes of monocots.
These help the plant to increase in length from the leaf base. They also provide growth from the
middle of the plant, to extend the leaves upward into the sunlight.
The meristematic plant tissue is equivalent to animal stem cells. These cells are totipotent or
pluripotent, meaning they can divide into many different types of plant tissue.
Permanent Tissue
When meristem cells differentiate and become specialized, they lose their availability to divide
and form nonmeristematic or permanent tissue. Such cells assume specific roles and lose their
ability to divide. They further divided into three groups namely
1. The dermal tissues
2. The ground tissues
3. The vascular tissues
The Dermal Tissues
The dermal tissues consist of the epidermis. The epidermis in plants serves the same function as
it does in animals. It is a plant tissue formed of thin and densely packed cells, meant to separate
the inside of the organisms from the outside. The epidermis is often covered in a layer of waxy
protection, to stop the plant from burning or drying out in the sun. The epidermis also
contains guard cells, which operate small opening called stoma. These stoma control the passage
of air and water through the leaves, allowing plants to move water and nutrients up from the soil.
Sometimes, another form of dermal plant tissues covers the epidermis, cork. Cork is a plant
tissue seen in woody plants, which dies and becomes an outer layer of bark. This tissue is also
soaked with a special waxy substance which protects against insects, the sun and other elements.
The ground tissues
Ground tissue comprises much of the interior of a plant and helps in metabolism, storage, and
support. Depending on location and function, ground tissues are made of three cell types:
i. Parenchyma: This tissue is comprised of thin-walled cells with very large central vacuoles.
The turgor pressure of these vacuoles is elevated when they are full of water, which gives
structure and support to the plant. Parenchyma plant tissue is found in all parts of the plant, and
makes up large portions of the leaves, stems and roots. In the leaves, parenchyma plant tissue is
highly involved in the process of photosynthesis. All parenchyma plant tissue is living, and
carries out functions continually. Parenchyma tissue, when wounded, can revert back into
meristematic plant tissue to regrow damaged areas.
i. Sclerenchyma: Sclerenchyma plant tissue is a structural tissue which dies, but the cell wall
and structure remain. Sclerenchyma plant tissue forms long, connected fibers
called sclereids. These fibers can extend throughout a plant to provide support and strength
to various organs. This plant tissue is commonly found in stems, bark, and in the hard shells
of some fruits and nuts, such as pears.
ii. Collenchyma: This plant tissue is similar to sclerenchyma, in that it provides support.
Often, collenchyma plant tissue is seen in young plants, with a limited number of cells. As
such, only a portion of the cell wall in these cells will be thickened for support. This plant
tissue is usually found wherever there is new growth and the other structural cells have not
set in yet.
The vascular tissues
The vascular tissues in a plant deal with moving nutrients and water to the leaves, while
removing the products of photosynthesis from the leaves. Photosynthesis produces the sugar
glucose. Modified and bound to other 6-carbon sugars, the substance becomes sucrose or a
variety of other disaccharides. In this form it can be moved with small amounts of water and can
be transported efficiently throughout the plant. The vascular tissues of the plant aid in this overall
effort to supply the roots with food as they supply the leaves with water and nutrients.
The two main forms of plant tissue used in this process are xylem and phloem. Xylem is a plant
tissue specially designed for transporting water and nutrients. This plant tissue can come in
several forms, depending on the species. Sometimes, the xylem plant tissue is made up of a long
chain of small tubes, called vessels, which interconnect and allow water to travel through it.
This main tube is supported by other cells, which help pull nutrients from the water and transport
it to the cells within the leaves. Starting at the roots, the water is driven by pressure at the bottom
and transpiration at the leaves, which sucks the water through the xylem like as straw. It is
estimated that up to 95% of the water used by plants is transpired, rather than used in
photosynthesis or in the metabolism. This is thought to be necessary to concentrate nutrients
found in the soil.
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