Primary Tissues and Tissue

Systems

Parenchyma, Collenchyma, Sclerenchyma

Epidermis
Primary Xylem and Phloem
 Tissues

- group of cells organized into structural and

functional unit

- masses of cells that are alike in ORIGIN,

STRUCTURE and FUNCTION
 Tissue Types

Based on primary
meristem origin:
• dermal
• ground
• vascular
 Tissue Types
Based on stage of development:
•Meristematic – immature; on going growth
•Permanent – growth has ceased (completely or temporarily)

Based on kind of constituent cells:

•Simple – homogenous (consisting of 1 cell type)
•Complex – heterogenous (consisting of more than 1 cell
type)
 Tissues
I. Simple - consist of one basic type of cell
A. Parenchyma - chlorenchyma, aerenchyma, epidermis, meristematic
B. Collenchyma - angular, lamellar, lacunar
C. Sclerenchyma - fibers & sclereids (non-conducting)
- vessels & tracheids (conducting)

II. Complex- more than one basic type of cells

A. Xylem - conduction of water and minerals
parenchyma, tracheary elements (vessels & tracheids), fibers, sclereids
B. Phloem- conduction of food
parenchyma, sieve elements, companion cells, fibers
 Simple Tissues:

Parenchyma, Collenchyma &

Sclerenchyma
Parenchyma
Tissue

Living cells
thin primary walls
polyhedral
variable in morphology
and physiology

individual cells are

parenchyma cells
 Parenchyma
Phylogenetically, precursors of all other tissues (presumed
ancestors of plants consisted entirely of parenchyma cells)

Various functions (support, storage, photosynthesis,

respiration, secretion)

Foundation of the plant- reproductive cells, e.g. spores and

gametes are parenchymatous
 Parenchyma
Developmentally undifferentiated cells such as meristem cells
are parenchymatous

Has a role in short distance transport/movement of water

and short distance or long distance transport of food as in
the parenchyma found in xylem and phloem tissues
 Parenchyma Cells
• Mature parenchyma cells
– Have thin and flexible primary walls
– Lack secondary walls
– Are the least specialized
– Perform the most metabolic functions
– Retain the ability to divide and
differentiate
Parenchyma

Intercellular space
 Examples of parenchyma tissues:

• Mesophyll
• Pith
• Cortex
• Pericycle
• Pulp of most fruits
• Parts of xylem and phloem
 Shape of parenchyma cells
A. & B. Orthic
tetrakaidecahedron-
14-sided polyhedron.

C. 10 faces

D. 9

E. 16

F. 20

A. Polyhedral shape: has many sides (# may vary even in

same plant)
B. Not much longer than wide (isodiametric) (others
elongated or lobed or branched)
 Parenchyma Tissue/Cell Types:

1. Structural
2. Boundary
3. Synthetic
a) Meristematic
b) Chlorenchyma
c) Secretory
4. Storage
5. Transfer/Transport Cells
 1. Structural parenchyma
• Aerenchyma – parenchyma with very large
intercellular spaces

Aerenchyma in bulky organs like banana leaves

1. Structural parenchyma - Aerenchyma
Submerged leaves and stems have extensive system of
intercellular spaces thru which diffusion of dissolved
gases may freely occur (i.e. water lily)
Aerenchyma cells

Intercellular space
Aerenchyma from stem of Papyrus
 Pneumatophores

have intercellular
spaces continuous
with those of
submerged roots,
allowing O2
exchange with the
latter O2 -deficient
roots.

aerenchyma cells
Aerenchyma from stems
Intercellular Aerenchyma - may serve as an air transport system
space
in waterlogged plants. Also in crop plants in wet soil.

Presence of aerenchyma
which continues from
shoots to roots enhances
the diffusion of gases
from leaves to roots and
enables wetland and
waterlogged plants to
maintain levels of
oxygen sufficient to
support respiration.

Aerenchyma tissues in rice roots

 Lysigenous intercellular spaces

SEM showing the cortex of

a young rice root where
radial lines of intact living
cells alternate with gas-filled
space created by
programmed cell death.

The radially oriented spaces of the rice root is an example of

aerenchyma formed by death of particular cells.
 Aerenchyma formation: An anatomical
acclimation to anaerobic conditions
Tests with wheat plants have shown that, without aerenchyma, roots are fatally damaged by
an O2-free medium while roots equipped with 12% porosity continue elongating.

The spaces are created by cell after the death of certain cells.
 2. Boundary Parenchyma
(a.k.a. Marginal Parenchyma)
• This type of parenchyma usually separates two regions of a
plant (i.e. endodermis in roots/stems separating the
conducting tissue from the cortex) or separates a plant from its
environment (i.e. epidermis on plant surfaces)

• Cells are usually attached to one another firmly to prevent entry

or loss of substances and resist tearing and puncture
2. Boundary Parenchyma
Epidermal cells
Boundary parenchyma

epidermis
Boundary parenchyma- epidermis
 3. Synthetic Parenchyma

A. Meristematic Parenchyma – synthesizes new cells

B. Chlorenchyma – synthesizes photosynthates

C. Secretory Parenchyma – synthesizes oils, resin,

etc.
A. Meristematic Parenchyma
 A. Meristematic Parenchyma
 cells which remain in continuous state of division or retain
their power of division
 composed of immature cells with no intercellular spaces
 contain abundant cytoplasm with one or more nuclei
 vacuoles are small or absent
 A. Meristematic parenchyma
- parenchyma cells having all the genes present in the
fertilized egg or zygote & have the ability to become
embryonic cells (i.e. are totipotent)
Meristematic parenchyma

Shoot tip Root tip

Regeneration of plants from callus cells which
are parenchyma
 B. Chlorenchyma
• Chlorophyll-rich
• Main function : photosynthesis
• Maximizes light interception by using its large vacuole to
press chloroplasts uniformly along walls
• Examples: Palisade and Spongy mesophyll
 Key
Photosynthetic parenchymaChlorenchyma cells-
to labels can be classified also
Dermal as parenchyma
Ground
Cuticle Sclerenchyma
Vascular fibers
Stoma

Upper
epidermis

Palisade
mesophyll

Bundle- Spongy
sheath mesophyll
cell
Lower
epidermis
Cuticle
Xylem
Phloem Vein
Guard
(a) Cutaway drawing of leaf tissues cells
Parenchyma cells in Elodea leaf,
with chloroplasts (LM) 60 µm
Chlorenchyma Cells
Chlorenchyma cells in Dieffenbackia
 C. Secretory Parenchyma
• Secrete substances that are
– transported to exterior plant surfaces (i.e. cutin,
mucilages)
– transferred to a cavity or duct within the plant (i.e. resin,
gums, oil, latex)
– stored within the vacuole
• Have thin permeable cell walls
Intercellular spaces in parenchyma cells
 Formation of intercellular spaces
1. Schizogenous development- separation of contiguous or
neighboring cell walls.
Resin ducts
or canals in
pine

Stages of schizogenous development of resin duct in Pine.

Formation of Intercellular spaces

Schizogenous
intercellular space arise
by separation of
contiguous primary walls
thru the middle lamella.

Starts at the junction of 3

or more cells and
spreads to other wall
parts. Thought of as
initiated by enzymic
removal of pectins.
Intercellular spaces
As a cell grows primary wall is
deposited on both sides of the cell
plate, which becomes the middle
lamella
Middle lamella of the new cell plate
does not connect with the middle
lamella of the existing or parent wall.
Junction is a point of weakness.

As turgor pressure builds, the cell

tends to swell and become rounded,
this causes the points of weakness
at the junction between the cell
plate and cell wall to tear and form
an intercellular space.
the old and new middle
lamellae link up to form
an intercellular space
between three cells.
 Formation of intercellular spaces
2. Lysigenous development- actual breakdown of whole cells

Resin ducts
or canals in
pine

Stages of schizogenous dev. of resin duct in Pine.

 Formation of intercellular spaces
2. Lysigenous development- actual breakdown of whole cells

1 Stages of
3
lysigenous
development of a
resin duct in the
primary shoot of
4
Mangifera indica.

Disintegrating cells
are numbered.
Disintegration of
entire cells takes
place
6
Example of lysigenous
cavity: Oil cavity in
Citrus
C. A large schizogenous space forms as an entire region of middle lamella breaks
down, the surface on one side of the space can fit against the surface on the other
side.

D. Stippled cells/shaded cells (undergoing programmed cell death) form irregular

cavity shown in E.

E. Lysigenous formation- the surface on one side of the cavity will not necessarily fit
against the surface on the other.
Other types of air space

Rhexigenous
- tearing or breaking of entire cells
- results from tearing of the first-formed primary xylem
elements (protoxylem) during elongation of the plant part.

*The protoxylem differentiates in parts of the primary plant

body that have not completed growth and differentiation.
So, mature nonliving tracheary elements are stretched and
destroyed eventually.
Monocot stem

Protoxylem lacuna
 Surrounding parenchyma pulled
Protoxylem in transverse and away from protoxylem elements
longitudinal section leaving a large lacuna

Stretched
annular
element, primary
wall between rings
collapsed

Adjacent
parenchyma
cells pressing into
the spaces when
walls
between rings
collapsed
4. Storage Parenchyma
- may store reserve material, in
solution in the vacuole or solid
or liquid particles in the
cytoplasm (i.e. sugars or other
soluble carbohydrates are founds
in the cell sap)

- Since they are metabolically

active in the accumulation and
release of products, they usually
of intermediate size to retain an
optima nuclear proportion of the
cell
 Storage parenchyma Sulphur-based chemicals in radishes
increase bile flow, improves health
of gall bladder

Napiform shape of radish

sinkamas Tap roots

Enlarged
adventitious roots
in sweet potato,
Ipomoea batatas
 Storage
parenchyma
 5. Transfer Cells or Transport
Parenchyma
• May transport large quantities of material over
long/short distances

• Examples: xylem parenchyma (axial and ray),

sieve elements of the phloem
 Parenchyma cells
with wall ingrowth that
increase surface area
of the plasma
membrane. These
are deposited on the
original primary wall.

Plasma membrane
closely follows the
contours of the wall
ingrowths. Role in
transfer of solutes in
short distances.
Found in phloem.
Collenchyma – living tissue with more or less elongated cells with
unevenly-thickened primary walls
Cells have thick glistening wall
Similar to parenchyma cells : both have primary unlignified
primary walls
 Collenchyma (beneath the epidemis)
Have large amount of pectin and hemicellulose (since
pectins are hydrophilic, collenchyma cells are rich in water)
Collenchyma is a supporting tissue, but have soft pliable,
nonlignified primary walls (wall is layered)
Collenchyma has plastic cell walls (can deform without
breaking)

Celery petiole
 Collenchyma Types
Lamellar in young
• Angular Angular in Urtica
stem of Sambucus
• Annular
• Lamellar
• Lacunar
 Radial walls

Tangential
walls

Lamellar collenchyma in Sambong.

More thickened along tangential walls
When collenchyma develops, there are usually no intercellular
spaces. The corners where several cells meet show a
thickened middle lamella

Angular collenchyma

Annular collenchyma
 Collenchyma Cells

• Collenchyma cells are grouped in

strands and help support young parts of
the plant shoot
• They have thicker and uneven cell walls
• They lack secondary walls
• These cells provide flexible support
without restraining growth
More thickened walls Lamellar

Angular

Lacunar
Corner thickening

Angular collenchyma
Lamellar or Tangential collenchyma
5 µm More thickened tangential walls

Collenchyma cells (in Helianthus stem) (LM)

Collenchyma-
support of
young organs
while
still elongating
 More thickened angles or corners

Angular collenchyma in Cucurbita

Lacunar collenchyma
Lacunar collenchyma in lettuce (Lactuca).
(Intercellular spaces pointed by arrows)
Most prominent thickenings occur next to
the spaces.
 collenchyma

parenchyma

X-section of petiole Longitudinal section of

of beets grape stem
Distribution of
collenchyma
 Function of collenchyma
it is a specialized mechanical tissue

for support of young organs that are still undergoing

growth (especially elongation)

Rapidly growing parts are long and slender so they need

a tissue that can be functional even while growing (must
be composed of cells that can expand)
 Sclerenchyma Tissue
Greek word skleros, means “hard”

Function is mechanical, elastic support

 Enable plant to withstand various strains such as
bending, weight and pressure without undue damage
to the thin-walled softer cells

Individual cells are called sclerenchyma cells

 Sclerenchyma Cells
have hard, rigid secondary lignified walls

Divided into 2 types: fibers and sclereids

Fibers - long cells
Sclereids - relatively short cells

Secondary wall contains cellulose,

hemicelluloses and pectic substances and
18 to 35% lignin
 Sclerenchyma Cells
• Sclerenchyma cells are rigid because of thick
secondary walls strengthened with lignin
(NONCARBOHYDRATE) binds to cellulose fibers
and hardens and strengthens the cell walls).
• They are dead at functional maturity
• There are two types:
– Sclereids are short and irregular in shape and
have thick lignified secondary walls
– Fibers are long and slender and arranged in
threads
a. Ensheaths vascular bundles
and form layers in peripheral
parts.
B. Sorghum stem
C. Fibers in primary and sec
phloem of Tilia
D. Fibers in primary phloem in
Phaseolus root
E. grass leaf, sclerenchyma in
strands beneath abaxial
epidermis
F. In primary phloem and sec.
Xylem
G. Fibers in cortex and
sclereids in perivascular
position in Gnetum
H. Aristolochia stem, cylinder
of fibers inside starch sheath

Distribution
 Sclereids - strengthening cells, hard masses among soft
tissues

Brachysclereids-------- stone cells, isodiametric,elongated

Macrosclereid-----------elongated and columnar rodlike

Osteosclereid----------- bone-shaped, columnar with enlarged

ends
 Macro-
sclereid

Thickenings
of sclereids
In the
anticlinal
walls

Sclereids of legume seed coats.

A, B. Outer parts of Phaseolus seeds in 2 stages of dev.
C,D,F,G epidermal sclereids
Astrosclereids-----------star-shaped with lobes diverging from
the central body

Trichosclereids--------thin-walled resembling hairs

Filiform-----------------slender threads resembling fibers

Astrosclereids (star-sclereids) Nymphaea
Lobes are able to invade
free
]intercellular space and
force their way bet
neighbouring cells.

Initially small and young

.When young sec wall
deposition begin after
mature shape is attained
Filiform sclereids of Olive
Sclerenchyma Fibers
 Annular- ringlike

Helical-spiral

Scalariform-
ladder-like

Reticulate-netted
Pitted-

helical helical reticulate pitted

annular
scalariform
 Bundle of fibers
Sclerenchyma fibers usually occur as bundles. Cell walls
account for the total volume of these cells compared with the
surrounding parenchyma cells. Provide rigid support after
elongation has ceased in plants.
Primary
phloem
fibers
Phloem fibers
Distribution

Phloem fibers
sclerenchyma
 distribution
Perivascular
fibers

Old Aristolochia elegans (Dutchman’s pipe) stem

Commercial fibers- come from bast (phloem)fibers

Hemp (Cannabis sativa)-----------------cordage

Jute (Corchorus capsularis)------------ cordage, coarse textiles

Flax (Linum usitatissimum)------------ textiles (e.g. linen), thread

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea)--------------textiles

Some phloem fibers are used for making paper

From Monocots

Abaca or Manila hemp (Musa textilis)---------------cordage

Bowstring hemp (Sanseviera entire genus)--------cordage

Sisal (Agave species)----------------------------------- cordage and

coarse textiles

Pineapple fiber (Ananas comosus)------------------textiles

Leaf fibers of monocots (together with the xylem serve as raw

material for making paper- in corn (Zea mays), sugar cane
(Saccharum officinarum)
 Silky, glistening fibers
Ramie fibers
Brownish outer region for ropes
abaca
Manila hemp or abaca fibers
Gossypium - cotton
kapok
Ceiba pentandra (kapok)

Pods contain seeds

surrounded by a fluffy
fibers that is a mixture of
lignin and cellulose
Ceiba pentandra (kapok)
The fluff or kapok that surrounds the seeds are used for
stuffing seat cushions, mattresses, saddles and life
preservers. It is lighter than cotton, buoyant and resistant
to saturation by water.
Cotton fibers are epidermal hairs of seeds of Gossypium, and
in Ceiba pentandra

Raffia is composed of leaf segments of Raphia palm

Non-conducting sclerenchyma cells
Epidermal sclereids in protective bulb scale of garlic

Sclereids
 5 µm

Sclereid cells in pear (LM)

25 µm

Cell wall

Fiber cells (cross section from ash tree) (LM)

 Cross
sections of
fibers
Fibers of flax ca 0.8 -6.9 cm long

fibers
Vessels & Tracheids: Water-conducting cells of the Xylem
Vessel Tracheids 100 µm

Pits

Tracheids and vessels

(colorized SEM)
Perforation
plate
Vessel
element

Vessel elements, with

perforated end walls Tracheids
 Vessel Tracheids 100 µm

Tracheids and vessels

(colorized SEM)
Water-conducting sclerenchyma
cells

Pits

Perforation
plate

Vessel
element

Vessel elements, with

perforated end walls
Tracheids
SECONDARY WALL
 SECONDARY WALL PATTERNS – deposited
inner to the primary wall, strong, durable, stiffens
cell wall, lignified (lignin- cross-linked polymer)

a. Annular tracheids - tracheids having thickenings in

the form of ring.
b. Spiral tracheids - lignin is deposited in the form of
a continuous spiral.
c. Reticulate tracheids - thickenings in the form of a
network.
d. Scalariform – like a ladder
e.Pitted tracheids - entire wall is uniformly thickened,
leaving small areas called pits.
Reticulate wall pattern

Annular
secondary wall
Spiral
secondary
wall pattern
Spiral wall pattern Scalariform secondary wall
pattern
END