Preparation and Study of Transverse Sections of Monocot and Dicot Stems and Roots Introduction + Vascular bundles of monocot stem are ar stem. These vascular bundles are surrounded by large par region. Pith region is absent in monocots. Vascular bundles in dicot stems are arranged in a ring surrounding parenchyma cells in a pith region. aged near the outside edge of the nchyma in cortex + The major difference between monocot and dicot stem is in the arrangement of vascular bundle. = In monocots stem, there is no definite arrangement of the vascular bundles: These are scattered across the stem. Whereas, the vascular bundles in dicot stems have a particular shape arranged in the form of one or two broken rings. + Monocot roots have vascular bundles arranged in a shape of a ring. Dicot roots have their xylem in the centre of the root and phloem arranged outside the xylem. + To study the internal structure of parts of plants such as leaf, root or stem, we should be able to cut the thin sections of uniform thickness of the given part. This allows the light to pass through uniformly and the tissues are clearly visible under the microscope. + We should also have the knowledge of suitable stain required to stain the given section, as different stains colour the tissues differently. (Refer to Chapter 4 - Laboratory techniques) EXPERIMENT 2 Aim To prepare a temporary stained mount of a transverse section of dicot stem and monocot stem and dicot root and monocot root and to study various plant tissues. Principle Staining enhances contrast in samples, generally at the microscopic level. Different stains colour the tissues differently. This helps us to study the various sections of plant cells. Requirement * Preserved or fresh mate * Preserved materiz * Microscope * Slides ial of maize root and stem of sunflower root and stem 35* Sharp blade * Coverslips + Watch glass . nee (1 gmin 100 ml of 50% ethanol) * Glycerine * Brush * Blotting paper ete. Procedure * Transfer these sections from the blade to a watch glass with the help ofa brush. The watch glass muse have water, Process of Staining Mounting * Place a stained secti water or glycerine, * Place the coverslip slow * Remove excess with the help of * Ensure that, ai ion in the middle of a clean slide, mounting Y without disturbing the sample. of water or glycerine from the fa blotting paper. i bubbles are not trapped w edge of the coverslip hile mounting. Precautions the section, both ‘with adequate wa To study the Transverse sect, i © Ypical example fa dicot stem, In the transverse Section, hairy surface, : < - ith 4 ‘he outline of the stem is circular wit2. Preparation and Study of Transverse Sections of Monocot and Dicot Stems and Ftoats + The transverse section shows the arrangement of tissues present in a particular way from the exterior to the centre, as described below. 1, Epidermis * Itis single layered outermost covering of the stem. + The cells are densely arranged having a thin wall, enclosed in acuticle, # Tt possesses multicellular hair, * Its function is to provide protection. Cortex + Located just beneath the epidermis. * Cortex consists of the three regions namely, hypodermis, endodermis and general cortex. (a) Hypodermis It is present just below the epidermis and it is made up of 4 - 5 layers of collenchyma cells, These are living cells that have the cellulose deposits at the edges. It may possess chloroplast and hence perform photosynthesis. It provides mechanical support. (b) General Cortex (Parenchyma) It is present just below the hypodermis and consists of several layers of living cells which have thin walls along with intercellular spaces. Chloroplast maybe present and hence photosynthesis can take place here. Several mucilaginous canals can also be seen. It stores food. (c) Endodermis It forms the innermost covering of the cortex consisting of a single row of barrel-shaped densely arranged cells without any intercellular spaces. 3. Stele In tissue, stele forms the central core having a vascular bundle. It consists of pericycle, vascular bundles, medullary rays and pith. (@) Pericycle * Present between the vascular bundles and endodermis. * Consist of recurrent patches of parenchyma and sclerenchyma. * Each schlerenchyma patch is connected with hard-blast fibers, (b) Medullary rays * Itis present within the gaps between the vascular bundles. This gap has parenchymatous cells, which are thin-walled and arranged radially in four-five rows. * Ithelps to store food material and in the lateral conduction of water and food. 37(©) Vascular bundle * Vascular bundles are open, collateral and co arranged in a ringike manner, * Vascular bundle comprises of xylem, phloem and cambnam * Phloem is present below the pericycle towards the outey Side. It consists of companion cells, sieve tube and phioen, Parenchyma, It conducts food to different parts of plant = Xylem is found in the interior Tegion of vascular bundle, ic, smaller protoxylem is found towards the centre and larger met taxylem is present towards the periphen, Therefore, xylem is endarch, Cells are dead and lignified Xylem conducts minerals and water to the plant, * Cambium is located between phloem and xylem. The cells are rectangular with thin cell walls. Cambium consists of meristematic tissues that generate new cells. (@) Pith * Pith forms the mid-region of vascular bundle up till the parenchymatous cells, joint and aye the stem. It arises under the centre and consists of large Features of Identification * The epidermis has multicellular hairs, * The hypodermiis is collenchymatous, + The xylem is endarch with the protoxylem and the metaxylem prese1 ‘tat the periphery. * Vascular bundles are open, collateral and conjoint * Vascular bundles arrany ged in a ringlike manner. « Pith is found at the centre, Present at the centre Epidermal ha! Cuticle Epidermis Collenchyma Edema ai et esin du Enidermis Parenchyma Hypodermis Starch sheat" Cortex Binder <—Endodermis ff i ag Pericyclo an Vascular bundie oe io Protoxylom Pith Primary medullary Figure 2.1 TS. of Dicot Stem2. Preparation and Study of Transverse Sections of Monocot and Dicot Stems and Roots Aim To study the transverse section of a dicot root, a sunflower root. Theory The TS. shows the following structures. 1, Epiblema or piliferous layer + Densely arranged cells with thin cell walls. It forms the outermost single layer, + Thin outgrowths known as root hairs are present in several cells. 2. Cortex = Present below the epiblema consisting of many layers of thin- walled parenchyma cells. 3. Endodermis = Single layer of barrel-shaped cells forming the innermost layer of the cortex. » A Casparian band is formed due to the presence of thickened radially arranged cell walls. 4. Pericycle * A thin-walled layer of cells present below endodermis is known as pericycle. 5. Vascular bundles = Radial bundles having two-six alternately arranged bundles of phloem and xylem. * Bundles of xylem are exarch, wherein the metaxylem is present towards the center and the protoxylem is present towards the outer side. = In outline, xylem vessels are polygonal. * Phloem bundles consist of companion cells, parenchyma and sieve tube. 6. Conjunctive tissue + They are the parenchyma cells, which separate the xylem and phloem bundles from each other. 7. Pith * They are significantly absent or reduced in the form of a few parenchyma cells, 39Unicettuia, hay in Epiblema Cortex Endodermis Pericycie Phloem Protoxylem Metaxyiem Figure 2.2 T.S. of Dicot Root of Sunflower Features of Identification 1. Unicellular hair is present on the epidermis. 2. Hypodermis is absent. 3. Vascular bundles are radially arranged. 4. The number of phloem/xylem bundles is not more than 6. 5. The xylem is exarch. 6. Absence or rare occurrence of pith. Aim ‘To study the transverse section of a monocot stem, maize stem. Theory ‘The maize plant is a monocot plant. The transverse section appears circular having smooth surface. Many scattered vascular bundles are present in the ground tissue. The transverse section displays the sucture of different tissues in a particular manner from the periphery to the centre. 1. Epidermis = An outermost, single layer. * Thin-walled livin, surface. + The rare occurrence of stomata. * Absence of epidermal hair. g cells. Presence of thick cuticle on its outer2. Preparation and 2. Hypodermis « Present under the epidermis. « Consists of layers of sclerenchymatous cells. 3, Ground tissue « Found below the hypodermis. » Consists of parenchymatous cells thatare thin-walled living cells. » Presence of intercellular spaces. « No differentiation of cortex, pericycle and the endodermis. 4, Vascular bundles « Several scattered vascular bundles are found in the ground tissue, which are closed type, collateral and conjoint. « The vascular bundles are more and densely arranged at the periphery when compared to the centre. + Larger vascular bundles in the centre, as compared to vascular bundles at the periphery. + They are oval in shape that is girdled by sclerenchymatous bundle sheath. = Ithas xylem and the phloem. = Xylem is Vshaped and endarch, i centre. « Phloem is present at the periphery and consists of living cells. It has companion cells, sieve tubes and the phloem parenchyma. ., protoxylem lies in the Cuticle Epidermis F Hypodermis Chlorenchyma Epidermis Hypodermis Ground tissue ‘Vascular bundles Vascular bundles Ground tissue Protophloem Metapholem Metaxylem Protoxylem Protoxylem lacuna ‘Sclerenchymatous bundle sheath Diagramatic Detailed structure Figure 23. TS. of Monocot Stem Features of Identification 1. Absence of short hair. 2. Sclerenchymatous hypodermis. 3. Undifferentiated ground tissue. Study of Transverse Sections of Monocot an 1d Dicot Stems and Roots pe Notes | 41lar bundles ate oval in shape, mumerous and seattereg vascular bundles a 4, Vascular ground tissue, i jateral and. close Vascular bundles are conjoint, collateral and closed, 4 , 5, Vascula ¢ 0 surrounded by bundle sheath. 6, Xylem is Vshaped and endarch. a of the transverse section of a monocot root, maize root, , fo study Theory 4 The wansverse section of monocot root shows the structures that an.) Je transvers listed below. |. Epiblema or piliferous layer + Epiblema is a single outermost layer with no cuticle, * Densely arranged cells. * Few cells may have unicellular root hair emerging, 2. Cortex + Found beneath epidermis, * Itiswide and is made up of multiple 3. Endodermis * The inner boundary of the * Consists of barrel manner, layers of parenchyma cells cortex, shaped cells which are arranged in a ri grlike * Presence ofa band of thickening called Casparian bands, Pericycle = * Tis a single layer of Parenchymatous cells found below the endodermis, 5. Vascular bundles * There are 8 or more alternating known as radi bundles of phloem and xylem I bundles, Protoxylem lies towards the s the centre, rounded. * Xylem bundles a re * Phloem is found On cells, sie 6. Conjunctiye issue cither oval or Under the Ve tube 4 of companig pericycle and compri and parenchyma, Phloem ty, indles are neh aS distinguishe each othe! ya tse eae tinguished from each 0 Conjunctive tissue,2. Preparation and Study of Transverse Sections of Monocot and Dicot Stems and Roots 7. Pith » Well- developed pith is pr = Itcomprises of the parenchyma in the mid-region of the root. ent. Root hair Piliferous layer Root hair Cortex Piliferous layer Passage cell Cortex Casparian strip Endodermis Endodermis Pith Pericycle Passage cell Phioem Protoxylem Metaxylem Pith Ground plan Figure 2.4. T.S. of Monocot Root Features of Ider 1. Epidermis has unicellular hair. ication 2, Hypodermis is absent. 3, Vascular bundles are radially arranged. 4, Eight or more than 8 phloem and xylem bundles. 5. Well-developed pith is present.