Plant Tissues

Introduction

Multicellular organisms show division of labor. Cells that specialise in one function are often grouped in the body. This group of cells that are similar in structure and function is called a tissue. Plants and animals have different types of tissues based on differences in their structure and required functions.

Plant Tissues

There are two main plant tissues and they are 1:- meristematic, 2:-permanent.

Meristematic tissue:

• Plants grow only in certain areas. This is because the dividing tissue, also called meristematic tissue, is located only in these areas
• Contingent upon the space where they are available, meristematic tissues are delegated apical, parallel, and inter collar
• Apical meristem: It is available on the developing closures of stems and roots and builds the length of stems and roots
• Lateral meristem (cambium): It is responsible for the increase in girth of the stem or root
• Intercalary meristem: It is seen in some plants and is located near the node
• The new cells produced by the meristem are initially similar to the meristem itself. When they grow tall, all their properties start changing, and they show differences as components of other tissue

Permanent tissue:

They are made up of cells that do not pass through cell division and form permanent tissue. This course of taking a super durable shape, size, and capacity is called separation.

• Once they lose the ability to divide, they are derived from meristematic tissue
• They are classified as simple (parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma) and complex (xylem and phloem) tissues

Simple permanent tissue: A few layers of cells beneath the epidermis are usually simple permanent tissue. There are three types of plain tissues: parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma.

• Parenchyma: Parenchyma is the most common and simple permanent tissue. It consists of relatively non-specific cells with thin cell walls

• They are living cells and are usually arranged loosely
• Enormous spaces between cells (intercellular spaces) are found in this tissue
• In some cases, it contains chlorophyll and performs photosynthesis, and is then called chloramphenicol
• In the case of aquatic plants, various air cavities are present in the parenchyma which helps them to swim. Parenchyma is also termed ranchman

• Collenchyma: It gives elasticity to plants. It also allows different parts of the plant such as tendrils and climbers to bend without breaking

• It is found in the leaf axils below the epidermis
• The cells of this tissue are alive, long, and irregularly thick at the corners
• Intercellular space is scarce

• Sclerenchyma: This is the tissue that makes a plant harder. The husk of a coconut tree is made up of sclerenchymatous tissue
• The cells of this tissue are dead
• They are long and narrow because the walls are thick because of the attachment
• These types of tissues are available in stems and around the vascular packs of trees. Also, it is present in the hard shell of seeds and nuts and the teens of the leaves
• It gives strength to the parts of plants

Epidermis: The epidermis normally comprises a solitary layer of cells.  In some plants, living in very dry habitats, the epidermis may thicken because dehydration protection is very important.

• The outer covering of plants is called the epidermis
• Epidermal cells on the aeronautical pieces of plants frequently conceal a waxy, water-safe layer on their external surface. It protects against dehydration, mechanical injury, and parasitic fungus attack
• Because it plays a protective role, cells without epidermal tissue form a continuous layer of cellular spaces
• Most epidermal cells are relatively flat
• The small holes in the leaf epidermis are called stomata
  • The function of the stomata that are closing is done by two cells called guard cells which look kidney-shaped. They are essential for the exchange of gases with the atmosphere.
  • Transpiration (loss of water in the form of water vapor) also occurs through stomata.
• The epidermal cells of the roots, whose function is to absorb water, are usually long hair-like segments that greatly increase the total area of the absorbing surface
• In some plants, such as desert plants, the outer surface of the epidermis has a waxy coating of cotton (a chemical with waterproof quality)
• As plants grow, there are changes in the outer protective tissue

Complex permanent tissue: Complex tissues are made up of more than one type of cell. All these cells are connected to perform a common function.

• Xylem and phloem are instances of such complex tissues. They run both tissues and form a vascular bundle
• Vascular tissue is a distinctive feature of complex plants and enables their survival in the terrestrial environment
• Xylem: Xylem comprises tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma, and xylem filaments

• Tracheids and vessels have thick walls, and many have dead cells in adulthood
• Trichomes and vessels are tubular structures. This allows them to move water and minerals vertically
• The parenchyma stores food
• Xylem fibers are mainly helpful in the work

• Flame: Flame is made up of five types of cells: sieve cells, sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem fibers, and phloem parenchyma

• Flame transmits food from the leaves to other parts of the plant
• In addition to flame fibers, other flame cells are living cells
• Sifter tubes are cylindrical cells with punctured dividers        

Conclusion

Plants are multicellular eukaryotes with tissue systems made up of different cell types that perform specific tasks. Meristematic tissue and permanent (or non-meristematic) tissue are the two types of tissue systems found in plants. Meristems, which are plant regions of continuous cell division and growth, are where meristematic tissue cells can be found. Meristematic tissue cells are undifferentiated or incompletely differentiated, and they divide and contribute to the plant’s growth. Plant cells that are no longer actively dividing makeup permanent tissue.