Plant Tissue Types

• Plant tissues can be grouped

into plant tissue systems each
performing specialized
functions.
• A plant tissue system is defined
as a functional unit, connecting
all organs of a plant.
• Plant tissue system is also
grouped into various tissues
based on their functions.
Can be classified based on
• Found in the regions of plants where
there is an active and continuous cell
division and growth called as
MERISTEMS.
• They divide actively to form specialized
structures such as buds of leaves and
flowers, tips of roots and shoots, etc.
• These cells help to increase the length
and girth of the plant.
Based on the Origin
• Promeristem
⚬ The earliest and youngest meristematic tissue.
⚬ It originates from the embryo.
⚬ The primary meristem arises from the promeristem.
⚬ It is found in the root and the shoot tips.
• Primary Meristem
⚬ It arises from the promeristem.
⚬ Cells divide actively.
⚬ It is present below the promeristem and forms the permanent
tissue.
• Secondary Meristem
⚬ It originates from the primary meristem.
⚬ The permanent tissue forms from the secondary meristem.
Based on the Position or Location
• Apical Meristem
• Intercalary Meristem
• Lateral Meristem
Based on the Function
• Protoderm
⚬ It is the outermost plant tissue and forms the epidermis.
⚬ It protects the plants from any mechanical shocks.
• Procambium
⚬ It is the innermost tissue and gives rise to xylem and phloem.
⚬ It helps in the transport of water and nutrients to different parts
of the plant.
• Ground Meristem
⚬ The cells are large with thick walls.
⚬ It forms the cortex, pericycle and pith.
• Makes up much of the interior of
a plant and carries out basic
metabolic functions.
• These cells store molecules
(such as starch and water),
photosynthesize (such as
mesophyll cells), or support the
plant.
• There are three types of ground
tissue: collenchyma,
sclerenchyma, and
parenchyma.
Parenchyma
• These tissues are found in the soft
parts of a plant such as the roots,
stems, leaves, and flowers.
• The cells of this tissue are loosely
packed and contain large
intercellular spaces between them.
• The functions of parenchyma tissues
are storage, photosynthesis, and to
help the plant float on water.
Collenchyma
• Have thicker cell walls compared to
Parenchyma.
• Provide structural framework and
mechanical support to the plant
structure such as the young leaves
and stems.
• Their cell walls are made up of pectin
and cellulose.
• Collenchyma is found in the marginal
regions of leaves and stems.
• Angular: Only longitudinal walls have
thickenings
• Annular: uniformly thickened cell
walls
• Lamellar: Primary cell thickenings in
the internal and external tangential
walls
• Lacunar: Wall thickenings restricted
around the intercellular spaces
Sclerenchyma
• dead supportive tissue that consists of a bundle
of long sclerenchyma fibers or a cluster of short,
crystal-like cells (sclereids).
• They are rigid, contain thick and lignified
secondary walls.
• Their main function is to provide strength and
support to parts of the plant.
Functions of Sclerenchyma
• They provide structural support to the plant organs.
• They form protective coverings around nuts and
seeds.
• They are also a part of vascular bundles and form
conductive tissues.
• The xylem vessels and tracheids are
sclerenchymatous cells.
• They form the hypodermis of some xerophytic
plants and reduce water loss.
• Many fibres such as bast fibres, seed hairs are used
as raw materials for textiles.
• They are the longest cells found in higher plants.
They can be as long as 1-8 mm in length.
• They are often found in groups or clumps or patches.
• They are often dead at maturity and lack a nucleus
and cytoplasm.
• They are present throughout the plant body. They
are commonly found in stems, wood, inner bark and
certain leaves.
• Have two type: Xylary (associated with xylem) and
Extraxylary (associated with phloem, cortex and
pericycle)
Some examples of fibres are:
• Blast fibres – flax, hemp, jute, etc.
• Leaf fibres – abaca (Musa textilis), henequen (Agave
fourcroydes), etc.
• Seed hairs – cotton (Gossypium species), coir (Cocos
nucifera), bamboo, etc.
• They may be spherical, oval or cylindrical.
• They are often dead and have highly thickened cell
walls.
• Sclereids have very narrow cavities and are hard and
inflexible.
• They are commonly found in soft tissues, e.g. cortex,
phloem, the pulp of fleshy fruits, fruit walls and seed
coats.
• They are found in shells of nuts, fruit pulp of pear,
guava, etc., tea leaves and seed coat of legumes.
• They form protective coverings as seed coats, shells
of nuts, etc.
• Brachysclereids or stone cells – found in fruits
such as cherries and peaches.
• Macrosclereids or malpighian cells – form a layer
in the seed coat of legumes.
• Osteosclereids or bone cells – found in leaves
and seed coats. It forms the hypodermal layer of
many seeds, fruits and leaves.
• Astrosclereids or star-shaped cells – They are
found in leaves and petioles of many
hydrophytes, eg. Nymphaea.
• Trichosclereids – They are elongated and hair
like. They are found in aerial roots of Monstera,
leaves of banana, etc.
 brachysclereids from pear
macrosclereids from a seed coat
osteosclereids from H. sericeae
astrosclereids from water lily leaf
trichosclerieds from banana leaf
• Dermal tissue covers the plant
and can be found on the outer
layer of roots, stems and leaves.
• Its main functions are
transpiration, gas exchange and
defense.
Epidermis
• composed of a single layer of
epidermis cells.
• It has the following structures:
⚬ Cuticle
⚬ Trichomes
⚬ Stomata and guard cells
• Cuticle
⚬ a waxy substance secreted by
epidermal cells (in the upper
epidermis)
⚬ coats, waterproofs, and protects
the above-ground parts of
plants.
⚬ Cuticle helps prevent water loss,
abrasions, infections, and
damage from toxins.
• Trichome
⚬ epidermal appendages commonly
observed on plant surfaces including
leaves, stem and fruits.
⚬ a protective barrier against natural hazards,
such as herbivores, ultraviolet (UV)
irradiation, pathogen attacks, excessive
transpiration, seed spread, and seed
protection.
• Stomata and guard cells
⚬ regulate gas exchange
between the plant and
environment and control of
water loss by changing the
size of the stomatal pore
• Specialized for long-distance
transport of water and dissolved
substances.
• Contain transfer ceIIs, fibers in
addition to parenchyma and
conducting ceIIs.
• Location, the veins in Ieaves
• Types: Xylem and Phloem
Xylem (Greek “xylo” = wood)
• Conducts water and salts
upward from roots to leaves.
• Xylem is composed of (a)
Tracheids, (b) Vessels (c) Fibres
and (d) Xylem Parenchyma
(a) Tracheids are dead, thick walled,
lignified tubular cells.
(b) Vessels / Trachea are dead, thick
walled, lignified tubular cells(Present in
xylem of angiosperms only, absent in
Pteridophyta and Gymnosperms).
(c) Xylem parenchyma consists of living
cells having thin cell walls.
(d) Xylem fibers consist of dead cells with
thick cell walls. they are mainly supportive
in function.
Phloem
• Conducts food (sugar) produced
from the leaves to the different
parts of the plant
• Composed of (a) Sieve tube
element (b) Companion cells (c)
Phloem fibre and (d) Phloem
Parenchyma
(a) Sieve tube-tubular cells with end walls perforated by numerous pores which are
called sieve plate. The sieve tube do not have nucleus but have a thin layer of
cytoplasm.
(b) Companion cells- small elongated cells having dense cytoplasm and prominent
nucleus.
(c) Phloem parenchyma- thin walled, having parenchymatous cells which are mainly
concerned with storage and transportation of food.
(d) Phloem fibers- thick walled elongated dead sclerenchymatous cells which provide
mechanical strength to the tissues.