The Nature and

Composition of
Plants
RJGRosales
CAFSD-MMSU
VISION
A premier Philippine University by 2028.

MISSION
To develop virtuous human capital and
sustainable innovations in a knowledge-
driven global economy.
 College Goals

To be a significant contributor to society of quality manpower; relevant

research results and technologies; and responsive extension services in
agriculture, food and nutrition, and home science; development
communication; social development, and environment and natural resources
for sustainable development.

Objectives
1. To develop state-of-the-art and innovative learning and instructional
technologies and reliable student support services that are founded on
high standards of social, moral and spiritual values.
2. To carry out focused high impact and relevant research and technology
development activities for local and national development.
3. To develop and implement replicable models of extension delivery for
sustainable agriculture, forestry and rural development.
4. To implement income-generating projects that will showcase generated
technologies while providing income for the University.
5. To establish a deep long and lifelong partnership with alumni towards
the attainment of the college goals.
Objectives of the Bachelor of Science in
Agriculture
1. To train students in the scientific habit of
thoughts;
2. To prepare students to become professionals
with entry level competencies in technical
agriculture;
3. To train students the techniques of identifying,
diagnosing, and analyzing problems;
4. To train students in designing, packaging and
applying the technologies needed in the
development and conservation of agriculture
and food resources.
Morpho-Anatomical
Structure

 Morphology – the  Morpho-anatomy – study

study of the form of the visible and
microscopic parts of the
and structure of the
commodity together
different organs  Cell – basic building
block of a commodity
 Anatomy – study of  Tissue – a group of cells
the parts of cells,  Tissue system – tissues
tissues, and tissue of several kinds of cells
system but have the same
function
Cell wall strengthens the cell
 Function of cells which animal and
plant cells have in common
Part Function
Nucleus Contains genetic material,
which controls the activities
of the cell
Cytoplasm Most chemical processes
take place here, controlled
by enzymes; gel-like matrix
inside the cell membrane
which constitutes all other
cell organelles
Cell Controls the movement of
membrane/plas substances into and out of
ma membrane the cell; outer boundary of
cell; encloses cytoplasm and
organelles of the cell
Mitochondria Most energy is released by
respiration here
Ribosomes Protein synthesis happens
here
 Chloroplasts
 contain chlorophyll, which captures the sun’s energy
to transform water and carbon dioxide into glucose
for food
Vacuole
 large membrane bound
chamber; filled with cell sap
to help keep the cell turgid
 cells storage center
 main function is storage;
found in the cytoplasm of
most plant cells
 they are membrane bound
organelles, they perform
functions of secretion,
excretion and storage.
Golgi body
 the unit where
proteins are sorted
and packed;
 cell's packaging
center
 main function is to
process and
package
macromolecules
synthesized from
other parts of the
cell
Endoplasmic Reticulum  membrane covered organelles
that transport materials
 membranous
organelle that shares
part of its membrane
with that of the
nucleus
 some portions of the
ER, known as the
rough ER, are studded
with ribosomes and
are involved with
protein manufacture
 rest of the organelle is
referred to as the
smooth ER and serves
to produce vital lipids
(fats)
IMPORTANT
ORGANELLES

 Plastid
 Mitochondrion
 Vacuole
IMPORTANT
ORGANELLES

Plastid
 organelle
containing
pigments or from
which pigments
originate
 storage organelles
 products like
starch for synthesis
of fatty acids and
terpenes
 PLASTID DESCRIPTION FUNCTION
Chromoplast  chromo means color;  main function is
plast means living attract agents for
 various pigments like pollination.
yellow,orange and red  in fruits it is to
 carotenes and attract agents for
xanthophyllsf dispersal
 found commonly in
flowers and fruits
Leucoplasts  colorless plastids and  starch grain
occur in parts of plants formations are
that are not exposed to seen in
light like roots and leucoplast.
seeds  oils and proteins
are synthesized
here
 PLASTID DESCRIPTION SITE
Etioplast  stores oil

Proteinoplast  leucoplasts that contain  found in seeds, e.g.

crystalline bodies of brazil nuts, peanuts,
proteins etc
Amyloplast  storage organelle of amylop  a type
ectin of leucoplast found
in the cytoplasm of a
plant cell
IMPORTANT
ORGANELLES

Mitochondrion
 powerhouse
of the cell,
where
respiration
occur
IMPORTANT
ORGANELLES

 Vacuole
 storage body of the cell for
water and dumping ground for
cellular wastes (sugars, salts,
acids, nitrogenous compounds,
glycosides, alkaloids, and most
of the tannins
 maintains turdigity (firmness)
Tonoplast – enclosed by a
membrane
 TISSUE
SYSTEM
 Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma
Location stem, roots, leaves, below the outermost
flowers, fruits widely epidermis boundaries of
distributed plant parts,
cortex, pith,
hard seeds
Function  stores assimilates and  provides  provides
food mechanical mechanical
 provides mechanical support and support
support (turgidity) elasticity  non-living and
 store waste products (stem surfaces lack
(tannin, gum, resins) & along leaf protoplasts at
 basic metabolic veins) maturity
function: respiration,  manufacture
photosynthesis sugar and
 wound healing, starch
regeneration  alive at
 living at maturity, maturity
have large vacuoles
No in roots, No in roots,
monocot plants monocot plants
 VASCULAR TISSUES
XYLEM
 Greek word xylos – wood
 transports water and dissolved nutrients from the roots to all
parts of a plant
 Direction of transport is upward

Two Types
1. Primary
 differentiates from procambium in the apical meristem and
occurs throughout the primary plant body
2. Secondary
 differentiates from vascular cambium and is commonly
called wood
CONTINUED SECONDARY GROWTH
 XYLEM
Xylary elements
 the conducting cells in xylem

Two Kinds
1. Tracheids
 the only water conducting
cells in most woody, non-
flowering plants Tracheids
2. Vessel elements
 occur in several groups of
plants including angiosperm

They are both elongated, dead at

maturity, lignified secondary cell
walls

Vessel elements
 PHLOEM
 Greek word phloios – bark
 transports dissolved
organic/food
materials/photoassimilates
from the leaves to the
different parts of the plant
 glucose in phloem moves in
all directions
Types
1. Primary phloem
 Differentiate from
procambium and extend
throughout the primary body
of the plant
2. Secondary phloem
 Differentiates from the
vascular cambium and
constitute the inner layer of
the bark
 PHLOEM
Sieve tube elements
 main conducting cells of phloem
 elongated and non-nucleated
 uniformly thin walled with the end walls perforated
from the sieve plate
 sieve tube elements are attached end to end to form
the sieve tube
PHLOEM
DERMAL and
FUNDAMENTAL SYSTEM
The Dermal System
Epidermis
 the outermost layer of the primary plant body,
which is usually one cell thick
 covers the leaves, floral parts, fruits, seeds, stems,
and roots
 one layer thick with cuticle
 composed mostly of unspecialized cells, either
parenchyma and/or sclerenchyma
 contains trichomes, stomata
 STOMATA
 pores for gas exchange
 called stomates (singular stoma)
 found typically on the outer leaf skin layer – epidermis
 openings in the epidermis of leaves, stems and fruits bordered by
two guard cells
 stomata are found on all above-ground parts
of plants, including the petals of flowers, petioles,
soft herbaceous stems and leaves
 they are formed during the initial stages of the
development of these various plant organs and
therefore reflect the environmental conditions
under which they grew
Stomata
 means mouth in Greek because they allow communication
between the internal and external environments of the
plant and their main function is to allow gases such
as carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen to move
rapidly into and out of the leaf.
http://www.eoearth.org/
The Dermal System
Periderm
 the organ increases in thickness due to secondary
growth
 important in the self-healing or curing of wounds in
potato and other storage organs
 outermost layer of stems and roots of woody plants
Cuticle
 layer of complex materials deposited above the
epidermal cell layer
 the thicker and more complex the cuticle, the
greater is its protective capacity
Cuticle
 lines the outer wall of the epidermal cells
 made up of waxy material that protects plants
from desiccation
Figure _. Leaf cross section.
 Emergences – conspicuous
hairs or spines
 stiff and sharp as in durian
and jackfruit, short and soft
(soursop and marang), long
and soft (rambutan-spintern)
 Trichomes
 Outgrowths of epidermal
cells
 tiny hairs, which are almost, if
not microscopic (okra and
mabolo)
 usually connected to the
vascular bundles, so water
exits from trichomes
VASCULAR
SYSTEM
Laticiferous ducts or laticifers
 fused cells containing latex or sap, a fluid that is either
clear or milky with minute organic particles in
suspension that are released when the fruit is injured
 60% of the middle region of the pericarp of lanzones
 in papaya, laticifers of different sizes are found near the
epidermal layer while larger ducts are observed in the
middle portion of the pulp
 laticifers decrease when some yellow areas have
developed
 no more laticifers when fruits are almost yellow with
only traces of green
Latex cells in madar Latex vessels in rubber plant
papaya
Morpho-Anatomical Structure
Fruit Anatomy
Two main parts of a plant.
Different Organs
 Roots – 2 types: tap roots -
enlarged and function as
storage organs of
carbohydrates (carrot, radish,
sweet potato, singkamas, yam),
and thin lateral roots
 Stem – upward growing axis
of a plant that has nodes (from
undeveloped leaves or flower
buds) and internode (between
nodes)
 Leaves – expanded part of the
leaf is blade; petiole –
attached to the stem
Different Organs
 Flowers – made up of  Cutflower –
attractive petals, green small composite of stem,
calyx and the reproductive leaves, and flower
organs (pistil or carpel and (most cases)
stamen)
 Cutflower – composite of
stem, leaves, and flower
(most cases)
 Fruits – composed of fruit  Pulp – edible portion
wall and seed; fruit wall – of fruits; aril – fleshy
peel and edible portion; rind outgrowth covering
– tough or leathery peel of the seed and usually
citrus, jackfruit, watermelon; arising from the base
of ovule (rambutan,
lanzones, durian,
mangosteen)
 Mangosteen
Garcinia mangostana
Roots
 anchors a vascular plant
 absorbs minerals & water
 stores nutrients
Stems
 holds the leaves and flowers
above the ground in their most
appropriate position
 alternating system of nodes and
internodes
 Axillary buds
 terminal bud
 apical dominance
Leaves
 main photosynthetic organ
 blade and petiole
 monocot and dicot vein patterns
differ
Tap Root System
 main root of a primary-
root system and it grows
vertically downward
 from the taproot arise
smaller lateral roots
(secondary roots), which
in turn produce even
smaller lateral roots
(tertiary roots).

 absorb water, mineral,

salts from soil
 anchorage
Adventitious Root
System
 grow from any part of the
plant body other than
radicle
 base of stem
 node
 internode
 branch
 leaf (special
circumstances
Types of
Adventitious Roots

Fibrous Roots
 characterized by a mass
of roots of about equal
diameter.
 this network of roots
does not arise as
branches of the primary
root but consists of many
branching roots that
emerge from the base of
the stem
Types of
Adventitious Roots

Foliar
Roots

 from leaves mainly petiole or vein

(spontaneous or due to injury)
Types of Adventitious Roots (normal
or specialized)

Adventitious
Roots
 from nodes and
internodes (from
cuttings)
Modified Roots

Tap Root
 for food storage
 fusiform (tapering
/narrowing) – radish
 napiform (tubular) -
turnip
 conical (shape of a
cone) - carrot
 tuberous/tiercular –
root is thick/fleshy,
no definite shape
 Turnip

Brassica rapa subsp. rapa

 Modified Roots

Branched Roots

 for respiration
 common in plants in
marshy places
Types
 Pneumatophores
(branched roots) –
respiratory roots from
underground roots
that vertically arise,  Mangrove
upward and come out
of the water (conical
spikes) around tree
trunk
Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for food storage

Tuberous root Fasciculated root

 swollen, irregular
 storage roots occur
shaped tubers which in clusters from the
are arise single from base
each node
Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for food storage

Nodulose root Moniliform root

 slender root is  root is alternatively
swollen abruptly at swollen and constricted
the apex giving a beaded
appearance
Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for food storage

Annulated root
 root appears to
be formed by
numerous discs
placed one
above the other
 Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for mechanical

support

Prop or Stilt Roots

 produced from main stem
 rubber plant

 support they develop several aerial

pitchfork-like extensions from the
trunk which grow downwards and
anchor themselves in the soil trapping
sediment which helps to stabilize the
tree.
Brace Roots

 roots that grow from

nodes above the soil
surface
Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for mechanical

support

Climbing Roots
 produced from nodes
and internodes (black
pepper)
Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for vital functions

Sucking Roots or Haustoria

 help in absorption of food from host
 parasitic
 Cuscuta
Modified Roots

Adventitious Roots  for vital functions

Epiphytic Roots
 aerial roots (orchids)

Assimilatory Roots
 roots with chlorophyll
(orchids)
STEM

Forms of Stem
Erect or Strong Stems
 unbranched
 erect
 cyclindrical
 stout
 slim jointed with solid nodes and hollow internodes
(culm)
Weak Stems
 weak trailing stem – on ground without rooting at the
nodes
 Creeping stem - runner, stolon, offset or sucker
 climbing stem – attaches or climbs objects (vine; pea,
gourd)
BUD
 Apical bud
 Axillary/lateral
bud
Apical bud
 apex of the stem has
an actively growing
Axillary/lateral bud
 embryonic shoot
which lies at the
intersection of the
petiole and stem of a
plant
Axil
 tangle between the
upper side of the stem
and a leaf, branch,
or petiole
MODIFICATIONS
OF STEM

UNDERGROUND
SUB-AERIAL (deposition of food
reserves)
Runner Rhizome
Stolon Tuber
Offset Bulb
Sucker Corm
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
SUB-AERIAL
Runner - slender branch with long internodes creeping on the
ground and rooting at nodes arise form axillary buds (strawberry,
ferns)
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM

SUB-AERIAL
Stolon - slender lateral branch originating from the base of
the stem and bending down into ground grow horizontally
with nodes and internodes
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
SUB-AERIAL
Offset - like runner originates from leaf axil as a short and thickened
branch breaks away from mother plant (e. g. water hyacinth)

Axil - tangle between the

upper side of the stem and
a leaf, branch, or petiole
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
SUB-AERIAL
Sucker - adventitious shoot that arise from underground stems below
the ground (e. g. banana, abaca, chrysanthemum)
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
UNDERGROUND
(deposition of
food reserves)
Rhizome -a
specialized
structure in
which the main
axis of the plant
grows
horizontally or
just below the
ground surface
(e. g. ginger,
sugarcane,
bamboo)
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
UNDERGROUND (deposition of food reserves)
Tuber - swollen stem of an underground branch it has buds or “eyes”
which develop into new plant
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
UNDERGROUND (deposition of food reserves)
Bulb - underground modified shoot, numerous scale leaves which are
swollen at the base of the foliage leaves

Tunic - an enveloping or
covering membrane
MODIFIFCATIONS
OF STEM
UNDERGROUND (deposition of food reserves)
Corm - condensed form of rhizome consisting of stout, solid fleshy,
underground stem growing in vertical direction
 REFERENCES
Lecture/Book
Rosales, R. 2016. Lecture on Pomology and Orchard Management.
CAFSD-MMSU

Rosales, R. 2016. Lecture on Postharvest and Seed Technology. CAFSD-

MMSU

Sta. Cruz, P. and B. M. Salazar. ____. Crop Science. College of Agriculture-

Crop Science Cluster. UPLB
Websites
www.google.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa/cells/cell
srev1.shtml
http://biology.tutorvista.com/animal-and-plant-cells/plant-cell.html
https://www.britannica.com/list/6-cell-organelles
https://www.slideshare.net/itutor/plant-tissues-18621576
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/fruitid1.htm
https://www.biology-online.org