TISSUE - REVISION NOTES

• Living organisms in this world comprise cells.

• There are unicellular as well as multicellular organisms present in this world.
• In unicellular organisms, the single cell is capable of performing several functions such as
respiration, digestion and clearing of the cell.
• In multicellular organisms, there is a division of labour. There are different types as well as
groups of cells that perform different functions in a multicellular organism.
• For Example, In animals muscle cells are responsible for causing movement, nerve cells are
responsible for carrying messages and signals from one part of the body to another and blood is
responsible for the transportation of food and oxygen to different parts of the body.
• In plants, there are vascular tissues that are responsible for carrying food and water to two
different parts of a plant.

THE FORMATION OF TISSUES

• The cells form groups of cells to perform a single task.
• This grouping of cells together to perform a function efficiently is called a Tissue.
• For Example, Muscles and Blood.
• The tissue cells have the same structure and they perform the same function.

TISSUES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

Plant Tissues Animal Tissues

Plants do not move so their tissues are Animals need more energy as
predominantly the ones that provide compared to plants because they
support to them so that they can stand are not stationary. Their tissues are
erect. the ones that can support the
movement.
These tissues are made up of dead cells The tissues in the case of animals
because dead cells can also provide are made up of living cells so that
mechanical strength to the plants and they can move and perform several
do not require much maintenance. functions.
Only certain parts of the plant can grow. Cells in animals grow uniform early
The tissues present in such regions and not only in certain regions of
divide themselves and form new tissues. the body.
The structure of plant tissues is not very The organs and organ systems in
specialised as compared to animals animals are highly developed.

PLANT TISSUES

Figure 1: Types of Plant Tissues

MERISTEMATIC TISSUE
• Only certain parts of a plant tend to grow. The tissues located in such parts are called
meristematic tissues.
• They can divide themselves and form new tissues.
• They have a thin cell wall made of cellulose.
• They have a dense nucleus and cytoplasm but lack vacuoles.
• They can further be classified differently based on the areas of the plants where they are located
-
• Apical
• Lateral
• Intercalary

Figure 2: Location of meristematic tissue

 Apical Meristem Lateral Meristem Intercalary Meristem

They are responsible They are responsible for These tissues are present at
for the growth of increasing the circumference of internodes of stem regions
stems and roots in the middle part of the stem and between the places at which
the plants hence are found there. leaves attach.
They are found on the
tips of the roots and
stems.

Why are there no vacuoles in the intercalary meristem?

• Vacuoles are responsible for the storage of food in the water. The intercalary tissues do not store
them. They are rather responsible for manufacturing them.
• Moreover, vacuoles contain sap which provides rigidity to a cell. This property of vacuoles may
not allow the intercalary tissues to divide and manufacture new cells. Hence vacuoles are not
present in them.

PERMANENT TISSUE
• The cells that are formed by the meristematic tissues often have to take a certain role in the
plant and thus, they lose their ability to divide and form more cells. They then become
the permanent tissues of the plants.
• Differentiation - The process by which cells of the meristematic tissues convert themselves into
permanent tissue by taking a fixed shape, size and function is called differentiation.

Types of Permanent Tissues:

• Simple Permanent Tissues
• Complex Permanent Tissues

Simple Permanent Tissues are of five types:

• Parenchyma
• Chlorenchyma
• Aerenchyma
• Collenchyma
• Sclerenchyma
 Figure 3: Simple Permanent Tissue

Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma

These tissues are responsible for These tissues are responsible These tissues are
photosynthesis, storage of food, for providing flexibility to the responsible for making
gaseous exchange and floating of plants so that they can bend plants hard and rigid.
plants. easily.

They are a group of living cells They are a group of living cells They are made up of dead
with a cell wall made of cellulose. with a cell wall made of cells having a cell wall made
cellulose and pectin. of lignin.

The parenchyma cells have large They have a little intercellular The cells do not have any
intercellular spaces between space in between them. intercellular spaces.
them.

There are thin walls that The cells present in these The cells have a long
surround each cell. tissues are broad and structure with thick walls.
irregularly thick at corners.

They are found in leaves and They are present in the leaves They are found in stems,
newly formed branches. and stems of a plant. veins of the leaves and
coverings of nuts and seeds.

Chlorenchyma
• These tissues are similar to that of parenchyma but they also contain chlorophyll in them.
• Due to the presence of chlorophyll, they are capable of performing the process of photosynthesis
in plants.
Aerenchyma
• They are found in aquatic plants.
• They are also similar in structure to that of the parenchyma but they have large air cavities in
them.
• These cavities allow the aquatic plants to float in water.

What is Lignin?

The cell walls of dead cells have a substance called lignin in them which provides rigidity
to the cells. Lignin acts as the cement for the cells.

EPIDERMIS
• The outermost layer of the cell is known as the Epidermis.
• It covers the entire plant.
• It is a thin layer of single cells but in places with less water, the epidermis of the plants can
become thick in order to avoid frequent water loss.
• The cells are flat and they have no intercellular spaces between them.
• The outer walls of the epidermal cells are thick and the inner walls are thin.
• The epidermal cells often have long hair-like structures in roots which facilitate the absorption of
water.
• The main function of the epidermis is to protect the plants from fungi, water loss and any injuries
by secreting a wax-like water-resistant substance called a Cuticle on the surface of the plants
which protects the plants.

Figure 4: Epidermis
STOMATA
• Stomata are pore-like structures that are present in the epidermis of the leaves.
• These pores are enclosed by two cells that have a similar shape as a kidney. These are
called Guard Cells of Stomata. Guard cells are modified epidermal cells.
• Guard cells are responsible for the exchange of gases and transpiration.

TRANSPIRATION

Figure 5: Transpiration

The plant cells sometimes have extra they lose it in the form of water that evaporates
through stomata. This process is called Transpiration.

ROLE OF TRANSPIRATION IN PLANTS

• Exchange of Gases - Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through transpiration.
• Prevent the Plants from Overheating - The leaves absorb sunlight during the process of
photosynthesis. Some of it is used in the photosynthesis process while the rest is radiated
as Heat Energy. We know that absorption of water causes cooling of the surrounding area.
Therefore, transpiration keeps the leaves cool.
• Transportation of Food and Water in Plants - The roots of the plants absorb minerals and water
present in the soil through transpiration and they are then distributed in the plant through the
transpiration stream.
 • Movement of Water in Plants – As plants lose water in the form of water vapours, the density of
water in leaves becomes low. So the water from the higher density areas such as the roots
move up to lower density areas through a force called Transpirational Pull.

Which gas is necessary for the process of photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide gas is necessary for the process of photosynthesis. Plants use carbon
dioxide along with water and sunlight to produce glucose in the process of
photosynthesis. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen as a byproduct of the
photosynthesis process.

Why do plants in desert areas have a waxy coating of cutting over them?

The epidermis cells of plants that are found in deserts have a waxy coating of cutting
over them because it prevents water loss from the surface of plants since water is
already scarce in such areas.

Why are the branches of old trees different from the stems of a new plant?
• As a plant grows older the meristematic cells start covering the upper layer of the plants instead
of the epidermis.
• These are the dead cells that have no special function in the plants but to provide rigidity. They
make the branches of the plants thick.
• This is often called the Bark or the thick cork of the tree.
• The bark of the trees contains a substance called Suberin which makes it waterproof and does
not allow gaseous exchanges.

COMPLEX PERMANENT TISSUES

Complex Permanent Tissues comprise different kinds of cells. These different

types of cells coordinate with each other and perform a common function in these
tissues. Two Complex Permanent Tissues are - Xylem and Phloem.
 Figure 6: Xylem and Phloem

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN XYLEM AND PHLOEM

• Their main function is to carry food and water in the plant.
• Both have a vascular bundle which is a conductive tissue in plants that helps them survive in
different environmental conditions.

XYLEM

Xylem is made up of dead cells having a thick cell lining. It consists of the following
elements-
• Tracheids and Vessels – They have a broad tubular structure so that we can allow transportation
of food and water in the plants vertically.
• Xylem Parenchyma – It stores food and helps in the transportation of water horizontally in the
plants.
• Xylem Fibres – They support transportation

PHLOEM

Phloem is made up of living cells and it allows the movement of food from leaves to other
parts of the plant. It has the following elements –

Sieve Tubes – Broad shaped cells with porous walls

• Companion Cells – They facilitate the functions of the sieve tubes
 • Phloem Fibres – Provide flexibility to the phloem
• Phloem Parenchyma – Stores starch and proteins

Characteristic Xylem Phloem

Made of… Dead Cells Living Cells

Cell wall thickness Thick Thin

Cell wall material Lignin (rigid) Celluloses

Permeability Impermeable Permeable

Cytoplasm None Cytoplasm lining

Transports… Water & minerals Food

Carried to…. Leaves Growing parts & storage organs

Direction of flow Upwards Up & down

Tissue also has … Fibres Companion cells