Chapter-6

Tissues
Part 1
Introduction to Tissues & Plant Tissues

Organisms have to perform a number of functions to remain alive. Some such functions and processes are
nutrition, respiration, excretion etc.
In unicellular organisms, these functions are performed by a single cell. For eg. In amoeba, a single cell
moves, ingests food, respires and excretes.
In multicellular organisms, there are millions of cells. Groups of cells are specialised to perform a particular
function. Since they only have to perform that specific function, they are able to perform it in an efficient and
well organised manner. For eg. Cells of muscle tissue contract and relax to cause movement, cells of nervous
tissue help in movement of messages to and from the brain to body parts.
Hence multicellular organisms show division of labour by formation of groups of cells performing specific
functions, i.e tissues and then forming organs and organ systems.
So, A group of cells that are similar in structure & origin and work together to perform a particular
function, form a tissue.
Difference between animal tissues and plant tissues:
Plants are stationary i.e. they do not move. So it is important for them to strong supportive structure. Now, if
this structure is made of dead cells, rather than living, it is an advantage for the plant as living cells would
require maintenance in the form of food, gases etc.
Since animals move from one place to another, so they consume more energy and hence need more living
tissues.
Following are some differences between plant and animal tissues:

Plant tissues Animal Tissues
Since plants are stationary so they
do not require much energy, Hence
more living tissues are not required.
Since animals are mobile so they
require more energy, hence more
living tissues are required.
In plants, most tissues provide
structural strength. Most of these
tissues are dead
9can provide mechanical strength as
easily as the living ones and need
less maintenance.
Animals move from one place to
another in search of food, shelter
etc., hence they need more energy
and there more tissues are living.
Growth is limited to certain regions Cell growth is uniformally distributed
Structural organisation of organs is
comparatively less complex.
Structural organisation of organs and
organ systems is more specialised
and complex.

Plant Tissues
Based upon their ability to divide, the plant tissues are divided into two categories :
Meristematic tissue: Cells of this tissue continue to divide throughout the life of the plant. Some of
these cells loose their ability to divide and become part of other tissues.
Permanent tissue: Cells of this tissue have lost their ability to divide and they have a speciallised
structure to perform specific functions.

Meristematic Tissue
Meristematic Tissue has the following properties:
It consists of actively dividing cells.
The cells are always compactly arranged, without any intercellular spaces.
The cells have dense cytoplasm, thin walls made of cellulose and prominent nuclei.
Cells of Meristematic tissue lack vacuoles.
Except mitochondria, other cell organelles are either absent or present in a nonfunctional state. For
example, the plastids may be present in a non-functional state called proplastids.
The Meristematic tissue is divided into three categories on the basis of their location in the plant.
Name of the tissue Location Function
Apical Meristem Present at the growing tip of stem
and root
Increase in length of stem
and root
Lateral Meristem (also
called cambium)
Found on the lateral sides of roots
and stem
Increase in girth of stem
and root
Intercalary Meristem Present at the base of leaves or
internodes
Growth of leaves and
branches

Plant Tissues
Meristimatic Tissues
(These cells continuously divide throughout
the life of the plant)
Apical
Meristem
Lateral
Meristem
Intercalary
Meristem
Permanent Tissues
(Cells with speciallised structure and function
that have lost their ability to divide further)
Simple Permanent
Tissue
Parenchyma
Collenchyma
Sclerenchyma
Complex Permanent
Tissue
Xylem
Phloem
Permanent Tissue
Based on the type of cells present in the tissue, the Permanent tissue is divided into two categories:
Simple Permanent Tissue and Complex Permanent Tissue.
While the simple permanent tissue consist of only one type of cells (eg. Parenchyma), the complex permanent
tissue consists of more than one type of cells (eg. Xylem and phloem)
Simple Permanent Tissues
(a) Parenchyma
Structure:It is the fundamental tissue composed of thin walled, living cells whose cell wall is composed of
cellulose. Small intercellular spaces are present between the cells.
Location and function: It occurs in all soft parts of plants and is meant for storage of food and to provide
turgidity to softer parts of plants. Parenchyma tissue in stem and roots store nutrients and water.
Types of parenchyma: i) Chlorenchyma :Certain parenchymatous tissue contain chloroplast and synthesize
food by the process of photosynthesis.
ii) Aerenchyma: In aquatic plants parenchymatous cells have air cavities between them to store air, such a
tissue is called Aerenchyma. It provides buoyancy to the aquatic plants so that they can float in water.
iii) Epidermis: The outermost protective layer of plants is made up of specially modified parenchyma called
Epidermis. These cells are without intercellular spaces.
(b) Collenchyma
Structure: This tissue is composed of somewhat elongated cells with cell walls that are irregularly thickened
at corners due to deposition of cellulose or pectin. They may be oval, circular or polygonal. Very little
intercellular spaces are present.
Location: It occurs below the epidermis of stem and petiole (stalk of the leaf) and around veins.
Function: This tissue provides mechanical support and flexibility and in some cases it may possess
chloroplasts to perform Photosynthesis. The stem and leaves are able to bend easily and then come back to
their original position due to the presence of collenchyma.
(c) Sclerenchyma
Structure: It is a tissue of dead and thick walled cells, having no intercellular spaces. The thickenings are of
cellulose or lignin or both. Several unlignified areas called pits often develop on walls.
Location: This tissue is usually found in the hard and stiff parts of the plant like seed coat, husk of coconut,
in the stem around vascular bundles, veins of leaves and hard covering of fruits and nuts.
Function: It is the chief mechanical tissue in plants and is able to bear push, pull, strain and shearing
forces. It provides strength to plant parts and also protects the delicate parts of the plants.
They are of two types: fibres and sclereids.

Epidermis and bark- The protective tissues:
The epidermis usually consists of a single-layered group of cells that covers plants leaves, flowers, roots
and stems. It forms a boundary between the plant and the external world.
The epidermis serves several functions;
a) It protects against water loss as it covers the entire plant surface. The outer and side walls of epidermal
cells are thicker than the inner walls.
b) In plants living in dry, arid regions, the epidermis may be multilayered to provide additional protection
against loss of water.
c) The epidermis in the aerial parts of the plant mat secrete a waxy, water-resistant layer on the outer surface
to further protect the plant against water loss, mechanical injury and invasion by disease causing bacteria
and fungi.
d) Epidermis of the leaf also has stomata that regulate gas exchange. Stomata are more in number on the
lower epidermis than the upper epidermis. This is another strategy to prevent water loss as upper
epidermis is more exposed to sunlight than the lower epidermis.
e) Sometimes, the epidermal cells secretes metabolic compounds, that have different functions (e.g. some
metabolic substances released by roots do not allow other plants to grow in that vicinity)
f) The epidermal cells, especially in roots absorb water and mineral nutrients. The epidermal cells of roots
have hair like extensions called root hair that increase the surface area for absorption of water and
minerals.
g) The leaf epidermis, sometimes, has multicellular hairs that contain chemicals to ward off insects.

Cork
It is the meristem that appears later in the life cycle of a plant. Woody stems and some other stem structures
produce a secondary covering called the secondary meristem or periderm or cork cambium that replaces
the epidermis as the protective covering.
The periderm replaces the epidermis, and acts as a protective covering like the epidermis.
Cells produced on the outside by periderm form the cork. Cells of have suberin in their walls to protect the
stem from drying and pathogen attack. Older cork cells are dead, as is the case with woody stems. As the
stem grows, the cork cambium produces new layers of cork which are impermeable to gases and water.

Complex Permanent Tissues
Eg. Xylem and Phloem
Xylem and Phloem are known as conducting tissues because they help in conduction of water,
minerals and food.
Xylem and Phloem are known as vascular tissues because they together constitute the vascular
bundle in plants.
Xylem and Phloem are known as complex permanent tissues because they are made of more than
one type of cells.
It is because of the presence of these conductive, vascular tissues that the complex plants have successfully
survived in terrestrial environment.
Xylem:
It is a complex permanent tissue, which is specialized for the conduction of water and mineral substances in
the plant body. Xylem is a heterogenous tissue made up of four different types of cellular elements. They are:
Xylem tracheids
Xylem tracheae or vessels
Xylem fibers and
Xylem parenchyma
Of these, the tracheids and the vessels are described as essential elements since they are directly involved in
the translocation of water and mineral substances. They help in vertical transport of water and minerals.
Xylem fibers and xylem parenchyma are described as associated elements. Xylem fibres are supportive in
function. Xylem parenchyma helps in sideways conduction of water. The tracheids, the vessels and the xylem
fibers are non-living components, while xylem parenchyma represents the only living component of the tissue.
Xylem is commonly described as a dead, complex permanent tissue.
Phloem:
Phloem is a complex permanent tissue, which is specialized for the conduction of food and other organic
substances. Phloem is also a heterogenous tissue, made up of four different types of cellular elements,
namely,
Sieve tubes
Companion cells
Phloem parenchyma and
Phloem fibres
Of these, the sieve tubes and the companion cells are directly involved in the translocation of the organic
substances. Hence, they are commonly described as essential elements. Phloem parenchyma and phloem
fibres are described as associated elements since they play only a supporting role in the process.
The sieve tubes, the companion cells and the phloem parenchyma represent the living components of the
tissue while phloem fibres represent the only nonliving component of the tissue. Phloem, unlike xylem, is able
to transport food in both directions.
Phloem is commonly described as a living, complex permanent tissue.