Chapter 3:
Plant Cell
and Tissues
MR. RAYMOND C. BALDONADO
Plant Cell
Refers to any cell of a plant
It is the structural and functional unit of plants
Plant cells are presumed to have evolved from
the early green algae and probably first
occurred in the early Paleozoic era, more than
500 million years ago
First observed by an English natural philosopher,
Robert Hooke
Plant Cell Structure
Plant Cell Structure
A typical plant cell structure includes organelles, cytoplasmic
structures, cytosol, cell membrane (also called plasma
membrane), and cell wall
Plant cell organelles include plastids, nucleus, mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus
Nucleus modulates the metabolic activities of the cell,
contains most of the cell’s genetic material
Other genetic materials are located in the semi-autonomous
organelles, the mitochondria, and the chloroplasts
The mitochondria are the organelles that provide the cells
chemical energy
Plant Cell Structure
The chloroplasts are chlorophyll-containing organelles that
they are the light energy (photon)-harvesting organelles
Plastids like chromoplasts and the leucoplasts. Chromoplasts
contain accessory pigments whereas leucoplasts contain
stored food
Endoplasmic reticulum is the organelle involved in protein
synthesis
Proteins that are for transport are passed on to the Golgi
apparatus where they are packaged and sorted
Lysosomes, peroxisomes, and cytoskeletons (microtubules,
actin filaments, and intermediate filaments) are also present
in plant cells
Plant Cell Structure
Central vacuole is present and often the largest cytoplasmic
structure in a plant cell. It is essential to plant due to its role in
osmoregulation
All these cytoplasmic structures are suspended in the fluid
component of the cytoplasm, the cytosol
Cell membrane is a semi-permeable, double-membraned
covering that is made up of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins
Cell wall that is responsible for the cell’s turgidity, rigidity,
strength, and resiliency against mechanical stress
A primary cell wall consists of cellulose, pectin, and
hemicellulose. Over time, it could deposit another layer called
the secondary cell wall. It is characteristically thick due to lignin
deposition
Plant Tissue
Tissue- a group of cells with the same structure and
performs the same function.
Plant Tissues may be simple and are composed of only one
type of cells (Uniseriate) or complex and are composed
of two or more types of cells (Multiseriate).
Plant Tissues are grouped into 5:
1. Protective Tissues
2. Meristematic Tissues
3. Mechanical Tissues
4. Conducting Tissues
5. Specialized Tissues
Protective Tissues
These are tissues that give outmost covering of the
plant for protection.
1. Epidermis- the outermost layer of cells of any
organ of a young plant.
Parenchymatous or sclerenchymatous
2. Periderm- tissue commonly found in mature
dicot and gymnosperm stems and roots.
Meristematic Tissues
These tissues are basically capable of cellular division.
2 Kinds of Meristematic Tissue:
1. Apical Meristem- tissues that grow in upward and
downward direction.
Root Apical Meristem (RAM)- give rise to root
Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM)- give rise to stem and
leaves
2. Lateral Meristem- tissues that grow in sideward
direction.
Meristematic Tissues
1. Protoderm- epidermis
2. Ground meristem- cortex, pith
3. Procambium- pericycle, primary phloem, vascular cambium,
primary xylem
4. Pericycle- branch root, cork cambium(phellogen) in dicot
root
5. Vascular cambium-secondary phloem, secondary xylem
6. Cortex-cork cambium (phellogen) in dicot stem
7. Phellogen- cork(phellem), cork parenchyma(phelloderm)
Developmental Sequence of Tissue
Differentiation in Dicot Root
Protoderm Epidermis
Cortex
Ground
including
meristem
endodermis
Branch root
Apical
meristem Cork
Pericycle (Phellem)
Cork
cambium
(Phellogen) Cork
Primary
parenchyma
phloem
Secondary (Phelloderm)
phloem
Vascular
Procambium
cambium
Secondary
xylem
Primary xylem
Pith
Developmental Sequence of Tissue
Differentiation in Dicot Stem
Protoderm Epidermis
Cork (Phellem)
Cork
Cortex cambium
(Phellogen) Cork
Ground
parenchyma
Apical meristem
(Phelloderm)
Meristem
Pith
Primary
phloem
Secondary
phloem
Vascular
Procambium
cambium
Secondary
xylem
Primary xylem
Mechanical Tissue
These are tissues that provides support for the plant.
Plant Cell Types:
1. Parenchyma-thin-walled cells that are basically isodiametric and remain alive at
maturity. Function for photosynthesis, food storage, secretion and phloem loading. These
occur in vascular bundles, leaves and epidermis.
2. Collenchyma-have irregular primary wall thickenings. Function for plasticity. Typically
found in the growing shoots and leaves.
3. Sclerenchyma- have thick-walled cells due to secondary walls and lignin deposition.
Unlike the parenchyma and collenchyma cells, the sclerenchyma cells are dead at
maturity. Different types are:
Fibers- threads, long and tapered that provides a maximum support to a plant. Found in
stem, roots and leaves
Sclereids- varying shapes but are typically shorter than sclerenchyma fibers. Found in
periderm, cortex, pith, xylem and phloem, also present in leaves and fruits (nuts), hard
coat of seeds and gritty texture of pears and guavas
Bast fibers- the durable, non-living sclerenchyma fiber in the phloem
Plant Cell Types
Kinds of Parenchyma Cells
1. Aerenchyma- for gas exchange/aeration
2. Chlorenchyma- contain chroloplast
Palisade layer- columnar in shape and
compact
Spongy layer- circular in structure
3. Meristematic parenchyma- for cell division
4. Storage parenchyma- for storage
Conducting Tissues
These tissues transport water and food throughout the
plant.
1. Phloem- food-conducting tissue. Composed of sieve
tube, companion cell, phloem parenchyma and
phloem fibers.
Sieve tube- has no organelle and function for
transport
Companion cell- has organelles, considered as the
transfer cell and function for metabolic processes
Phloem sap- composed of sieve tube member and
sieve cell which can be found from leaves to sinks.
Sinks in plant can be the fruit, stem and root.
Conducting Tissues
2. Xylem- water-conducting tissue. Composed of
tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem
fibers.
Transport of water and food can be Axial
(upward) or Lateral (sideward) in direction.
Transpiration- is the transfer of water from root to
leaf from higher water potential to lower water
potential through cohesion-adhesion property of
water.
Conducting Tissues
Transpiration Pathway
Xylem of root
Xylem of stem
Xylem of petiole
Xylem of midrib
Xylem of veins
Mesophyll layer
Conducting Tissues
Specialized Tissues
It prevents water evaporation and gives additional
protection.
1. Trichomes- cutinized epidermal appendages
found in the leaf, stem, flower and fruit. Serve to
protect and prevent evaporation of water.
2. Root Hairs- Uncutinized epidermal appendages
used to increase the water absorbing capacity
of the roots
Specialized Tissues
Trichomes
Root Hairs
What are the Biological
Importance of Plant?
