Biology Notes

Ch.6: Tissues
Name: Grade: IX
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Tissue

A group of cells that are specialized to perform a particular function forms a tissue.

Tissues are mainly classified into two types:

1.Plant Tissues 2. Animal Tissues

1.Plant tissues

→ Plants do not move, i.e., they are stationary.

→ Most of the tissues they have are supportive, which provides them with structural strength.

→ Most of these tissues are dead, as they can provide better mechanical strength than the live ones,
and need less maintenance.

→ Some of the plant tissues keep on dividing throughout the plant life. These tissues are localised in
certain regions.

Types of Plant Tissues:

Based on the dividing capacity of the tissues, various plant tissues can be classified as growing or
meristematic tissue and permanent tissue which have further sub-divisions as explained below:
Types of Plant Tissues

A. Meristematic Tissue

Meristematic tissues are responsible for growth in plants. Cells in these tissues can divide and form
new cells.

Meristematic tissues are of three types:

(i) Apical Meristem: It is present at the growing tip of the stem and roots and increases the length.

(ii) Lateral Meristem (cambium): It is present beneath the bark. It is responsible for growth in girth
of trunk.

(iii) Intercalary Meristem: It is present at internodes or base of the leaves and increases the length
between the nodes.

B. Permanent Tissue

→ Cells of meristematic tissues change their shape & size to get specialised in performing other
functions in plants body. This process is called Differentiation.

→ Once the cells of meristematic tissue divide to a certain extent, they become specialized for a
particular function.

Permanent tissues are of two types:

Simple tissues and Complex tissues

(i) Simple tissues: This type of tissue is composed of same type of cells.

These are again of four types:

(a) Parenchyma simple tissues: Cells of parenchyma tissues are live. They are oval, elongated and
loosely packed with large inter-cellular space, forming basic packing of tissue and are found
throughout the plant body.
Functions of parenchyma:

→ They provide mechanical support to the plant body.

→ They store food and nutrients in vacuoles.

Chlorenchyma: Parenchyma with chlorophyll which performs photosynthesis is called as

Aerenchyma: In aquatic plants, cells of parenchyma have large air cavities to give buoyancy to the
plant and is called aerenchyma.

(b) Collenchyma simple Tissues: Cells of collenchyma are live. They are oval and elongated and
tightly packed with no inter-cellular spaces. They are found below epidermis in leaves and stem.
Functions of collenchyma tissues:

→ They provide mechanical support to plant.

→ They also provide flexibility to plants so that they can bend without breaking.

(c) Sclerenchyma Simple Tissues:

→Cells of sclerenchyma are dead.

→They are narrow and elongated.

→The cell wall in sclerenchyma is composed of lignin which makes it hard.

→Sclerenchyma is found around vascular bundles, veins of leaves in hard covering of seeds and nuts.
For example: Sclerenchyma tissues are found in coconut husk.

Functions of sclerenchyma:

→ They help to makes parts of plant hard and stiff.

→ Also provides mechanical strength.

(d) Protective tissues: They protect the plant body by forming an outer layer.

There are two types of protective tissues:

1.Epidermis Simple Tissues:

→ Epidermis tissue covers the entire body of plant. They protect plant from injury, germs and water
loss.

→Cells of epidermal tissue form a continuous layer without intercellular spaces.

→In desert plants, epidermis and Cutin (a water proof waxy substance secreted by epidermis) are
thicker to reduce loss of water due to transpiration.

2.Cork Simple Tissues:

→These types of tissue consist of dead cells with no intercellular spaces. They form the outer layer
of old tree trunks.

→Cork cells have a chemical called suberin in their walls that makes them impervious to gases and
water.

→Cork tissue protects plants from injuries, germs and water loss.

→Cork being light in weight is used for making several products like bottle stoppers and shuttle cork.

(ii) Complex tissues: Group of different type of cells performing common task together are named as
complex tissues.
Complex tissues are of two types:

(a) Xylem (b) Phloem

(a) Xylem:

→This is the tissue that transports water and nutrients from root to upper parts of plant.

→It is composed of four types of cells i.e., tracheid, vessel, xylem parenchyma and xylem
sclerenchyma (fibre).

Structure of Xylem Tissue

1.Trachieds are long elongated cells with tapered ending. Tracheid cells are dead. Tracheid
transports water through pits.

2.Vessel is a pipe like structure. Vessels are dead and have lignified thick cell wall. Upper and lower
portion of cell wall is absent.

3.Parenchymas are living cells. They store food and nutrients.

4.Sclerenchymas (fibres) are dead cells. They provide mechanical support to plant.

(b) Phloem:

→ Phloem is the tissue that transports food from site of photosynthesis to different parts of plants.

→It is composed of four types of cell i.e. sieve cells, companion cells, phloem parenchyma, phloem
fibre or blast fibre.

→All types of cells are live except phoem fibres.

Sectional View of Phloem Tissue

2.Companion cells have cytoplasm, nucleus and other organelles. They perform the tasks required
for sieve cells for living.

3.Phloem parenchyma store food.

4.Phloem fibres have thick cell wall and they provide mechanical support to plant.