Parenchyma Cells Definition

In plants, parenchyma is one of three types of ground tissue. Ground tissue is

anything that is not vascular tissue or part of the dermis (skin) of the plant. In
contrast to collenchyma and sclerenchyma cells, parenchyma cells primarily
consists of all of the simple, thin walled, undifferentiated cells which form a large
majority of many plant tissues.

Structure of Parenchyma Cells

Parenchyma cells are notable for their thin walls, and for being alive at maturity.
Collenchyma cells tend to develop thicker secondary cell walls, to support
structure. Sclerenchyma cells get both thicker walls and die off at maturity,
producing tissues like bark and vascular tissue. The parenchyma cells have thinner
walls and stay alive at maturity. While this makes them less useful in structural
applications, the cells can move and store water and nutrients as well as divide
quickly. This is important for the growth and repair functions of the parenchyma
cells.

Each parenchyma cell may be a different shape, depending on its exact location
and which tissue it is present in. However, it will always have a large central
vacuole. This organelle is responsible for storing water and ions. This both creates
a pressure between the parenchyma cells and their neighbors (called turgor
pressure) and also allows the plant to store enormous amounts of water and
nutrients. The thin walls of the parenchyma cells also allow the easy passage of
sugars created in the leaves.

In fact, most photosynthesis takes place within specialized parenchyma cells found
within leaves. These parenchyma cells, called chlorenchyma cells, contain
chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are special organelles which carry out the process of
photosynthesis, storing the energy of sunlight in the newly created bonds of sugar
molecules. These sugars can then be converted into other sugars, fats, and oils, and
stored in other parenchyma cells within the stems and roots. Potatoes, for example,
are mostly parenchyma cells packed with stored starches. The plant would
typically use the stores to survive the winter and get a boost the next spring.
Parenchyma Cells Functions
Healing and Repair
One of the most important functions of parenchyma cells is that of healing and
repair. Parenchyma cells are unique in their meristematic nature. This means that
the cells are pluripotent, having the ability to divide into a number of different
cells. This plays an important role in how a plant can heal itself after a wound.
While it may seem silly to think that a tree heals, the process is not much different
to healing in a human body.

Parenchyma cells, once exposed to the outside when a wound occurs, are
stimulated to start dividing. The cells divide towards the wound, differentiating
into the different cell types which are needed, such as bark and epidermis. The
parenchyma cells on the inside of the wound remain undifferentiated, and provide
a source of meristematic cells in case the plant is attacked again. This process is
responsible for healing in plants, from giant trees to a blade of grass.

Photosynthesis
Another important role parenchyma cells play is that of provider. While the other
cell types provide much of the support and foundation on which the parenchyma
cells operate, they produce a majority of the photosynthesis products. Simply
through sheer numbers, parenchyma cells outnumber the other types. The
chlorenchyma cells specifically do the majority of the photosynthesis.

However, photosynthesis would come to halt if the products had nowhere to go.
Some parenchyma cells differentiate into part of the phloem, a special passageway
for the sugars and products of photosynthesis to traverse the plant. These
parenchyma cells allow the products to make it from the leaves, where they are
created, all the way to the roots. The living cells have specialized proteins and
channels which are used to help the sugars make their way efficiently to the roots
and other tissues. These other parenchyma tissues need the sugars because they are
internal and do not contain chloroplasts with which to create their own energy.
Nutrient and Food Storage
Humans rely on the storage ability of parenchyma cells as our main source of food.
The entire food chain is based upon the storage of sugar within parenchyma cells.
So, whether you eat meat or are a vegan, you need parenchyma cells. The large
central vacuole within plant cells allows the storage of large amounts of soluble
nutrients, which dissolve into the water. The plant can control the usage and
distribution of the nutrients within cells via the activation of specific proteins and
pathways. Parenchyma cells are a major storage place for ions, water, and all
photosynthesis products. Many of the foods we know, like fruits and vegetables,
are purposefully bred exaggerations of natural plant processes. Corn, potatoes, and
wheat were all selected from less productive ancestors which stored higher
amounts of nutrients in their parenchyma cells.