PLANT STRUCTURE AND GROWTH

Earth and Life Sciences

UST- SHS Department
1st Semester, SY 2019-2020
HIERARCHICAL ORGANIZATION OF PLANTS
 PLANT
RESOURCE
ACQUISITION
PLANT SYSTEM
Roots rely on sugar
produced by
photosynthesis in the
shoot system
Shoots rely on water
and minerals absorbed
by the root system
ROOTS
Primary function:
 Anchors the plant
 Absorbs minerals and water
 Stores carbohydrates

Primary root is the first root to

emerge
The primary root branches to
form lateral roots, which
improve anchorage and water
absorption
 mycorrhizae, mycorrhiza or
mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic
MYCORRHIZAL ASSOCIATION association between a
fungus and the roots of a
vascular host plant
SPECIALIZED
ROOTS
STEM
Primary function:
elongate and orient the shoot to
maximize photosynthesis
Many plants have modified
stems that perform alternate
functions (e.g., rhizomes, stolons,
tubers)
SPECIALIZED STEMS
LEAVES
Primary function:
 intercept light
 exchange gases
 dissipate heat
 and defend the plant from
herbivores and pathogens

Monocots and eudicots differ in

the arrangement of veins, the
vascular tissue of leaves
 Most monocots have parallel veins
 Most eudicots have branching veins
SPECIALIZED LEAVES
TISSUE SYSTEM

Roots, stems, and leaves

are composed of three
tissue types: dermal,
vascular, and ground tissues

Each tissue system is

continuous throughout the
plant
 DERMAL TISSUE SYSTEM
Cuticle prevent water loss from the
epidermis
Periderm replace the epidermis in
older regions of stems and roots
Guard cells facilitate gas
exchange in shoots
Trichomes outgrowths of the shoot
epidermis
VASCULAR TISSUE SYSTEM
Xylem conducts water and dissolved
minerals upward from roots into the
shoots
Phloem transports sugars from where
they are made (primarily leaves) to
storage structures or sites of growth
The vascular tissue of a root or stem is
collectively called the stele
 COMMON TYPES
OF PLANT CELLS
Parenchyma
Collenchyma
Sclerenchyma
Water-conducting cells
of the xylem
Sugar-conducting cells
of the phloem
TOUR OF
A PLANT
CELL
PLANT GROWTH
MERISTEMS
FLOWERING
PLANTS

Perennials Annuals

Biennials
 PRIMARY GROWTH
OF ROOTS
The root tip is covered by
a root cap, which protects
the root apical meristem
as the root pushes through
soil
Growth occurs just behind
the root tip, in three zones
of cells:
 Zone of cell division
 Zone of elongation
 Zone of differentiation, or
maturation
 PRIMARY
TISSUE IN
YOUNG
ROOTS
FORMATION OF
LATERAL ROOTS
PRIMARY GROWTH
OF SHOOTS
LEAF GROWTH AND ANATOMY
SECONDARY GROWTH
Secondary growth occurs in stems
and roots of woody plants but
rarely in leaves
Secondary growth consists of the
tissues produced by the vascular
cambium and cork cambium
Primary growth and secondary
growth occur simultaneously
THE VASCULAR CAMBIUM AND SECONDARY
VASCULAR TISSUE
CORK CAMBIUM AND THE PRODUCTION OF
PERIDERM