REPORT SHEET

Experiment No. 6
The Plant Tissues
I. DATA AND RESULTS

II. OBSERVATIONS
There are a lot of tissues in just a small part of a plant. The leaf of santan is just like the skin of animals
and humans it has upper and lower epidermis. The stems of monocot and dicot are composed of the same
tissues but have different structures as vascular bundles in monocot are scattered while the vascular
bundles in the dicot have a ring-like pattern.

III. CONCLUSION
I therefore conclude that plant tissues have their own different functions and structure that is responsible
for their growth and protection. These are important in studying and understanding the plants
IV. ANSWERS TO RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. What are the specific functions of the following:
ANSWER: A. Parenchyma – responsible for photosynthesis, food storage, sap secretion, and
gas exchange.
B. Collenchyma - provides support and flexibility to the stems for easy bending without
breakage.
C. Sclerenchyma – provides mechanical support and also supports in the transportation of water
and nutrients.
D. Xylem - responsible in the transportation of water and water-soluble nutrients and provides
mechanical support and storage.
E. Cuticle – prevents evaporation of water from the leaf surface, reduces the rate of water loss.
F. Phloem - responsible for transportation and distribution of sugars, proteins, and other organic
molecules in plants.
G. Trichomes – provides protection to the plant against insects, prevents insect on approaching
and eating the plant.
H. Root hairs – responsible for collection of water and nutrients from the soil and take it to the
roots and to the rest of the plant.
I. Stomatal apparatus – guard cells responsible for the open and close of stomatal pore during
gaseous exchange and transpiration.
2. What are secretory cells?
ANSWER: They are cells responsible for the gathering of metabolism by products which are not used as
reserve substances.
3. Which has more stomata, the upper or lower epidermis? Why?
ANSWER: The lower epidermis, as it is more often hidden from the sun making it cooler, so evaporation
would not take place as often.

OBJECTIVE
- To identify and give the function of plant tissues and types of roots stems and leaves.
INTRODUCTION
Root and shoot basically are similar in structure, only the arrangement of tissues differs. Dicot stems have
their vascular tissues arranged in a more or less complete ring of individual bundles of vascular tissue
( called vascular bundles). The ground tissue of dicots can be differentiated into two regions, pith and
cortex.
Herbaceous plant, those have no or very little wood. Herbaceous plants have only primary tissues. Woody
plants develop secondary tissues-wood and bark.

RESULT
DICOT ANATOMY

DISCUSSION
Dicot roots of gram shows following distinct region in its Transverse section with following section with
following features: epiblema , cortex, endodermis, pericycle, vascular bundles and pith. Epiblema or
epidermis provides protection to the roots hairs. It also helps in absorption of water and minerals from
soil. Cortex functions as transport of water and salts from the root hairs to the center of the root.
Endodermis allows radial diffusion of water and minerals through the endodermis. Pericycle, at the
second time of secondary growth, it produces secondary cambium or phellogens. The vascular bundles
with consists xylem and phloem.
The epidermis was made up of parenchyma cells in monocot stem, cuticle present. Its hypodermis is
made up of few layers of sclerenchymatous cells which is involves in primary growth. Its epidermis is a
protective outermost single layer of parenchymatous cells without intercellular spaces. Its cortex is below
the epidermis cortex. It is differentiated into few layers of collenchyma cells that make hypodermis gives
mechanical strength to the stem. Its endodermis (starch sheath) is the cells of this layer are barrel shaped
arranged compactly without intercellular spaces. The last one is stele which consists of pericycle, vascular
bundles and pith.

MONOCOT ANATOMY

Monocot Root Magnification 40x

QUESTION
a) Referring the slide of root hairs, do they originate all the way down to the root cap (Yes or No)?
Yes. This is because the outer area of the bottom of the root protects other root tissues as the root
continues to grow into the soil.
b) Examine the root hairs carefully. What happens to their length as you observe them at
increasing distance from the root tip?
They become longer.
c) The youngest root hairs are the shortest. What does this imply regarding their point of origin
and pattern of maturation?
Root hairs or absorbent hairs is a tubular outgrowth of a trychoblast, a hair-forming cell on the epidermis
of a plant roots. They are mainly found in the region of maturation of the root, and not the zone of
elongation because ny root hairs that arise are sheared off as the root elongates and moves through the
soul. Root hair cells vary in between fifteen and seventeen micrometers in their meter, and eighty to 1,500
micrometers in lengths.
d) Beneath the epidermis find the relatively wide cortex, consisting of parenchyma cells that contain
numerous starch grains. Based on the presence of starch grains, what would you suspect one
function of this root might be?
It is responsible for the transportation of the materials into central cylinder of the root through diffusion
and may also be used for food storage in the form of starch.
e) Do you find any starch grains in the cortex of the corn stem?
Yes, because Starch grains are small granules found in the leaves, roots, stems, fruits and seeds of plants.
f) Does the spongy mesophyll contain any chloroplasts (Yes or No)?
Yes, spongy mesophyll contains many chloroplast. most photosynthesis takes place,in palisade cells.
Spongy mesophyll also captures light and makes food.
g) What is one function that occurs within the spongy mesophyll?
spongy mesophyll is the air spaces in a plant that allow air to diffuse among the cells which are producing
and releasing both CO2 and O2, the area where gas exchange occurs.
h) Is the lower epidermal layer covered by a cuticle?
Yes, the cuticle covers both the upper and lower parts of the leaf epidermis, made mostly of lipids and
waxes. The cuticle tends to be thicker on the top of the leaf, since that's the part that's most exposed to the
sun. The cuticle protects the leaf's photosynthesizing cells from danger, such as bacteria, fungal spores,
viruses and other disease-causing dangers. The cuticle also protects the leaf's photosynthesizing cells
from environmental toxins, excessive ultraviolet radiation and too much water loss.
i) Compare the abundance of stomata within the lower epidermis with that in the
upper epidermis. Which epidermal surface has more stomata. All surfaces of the leaf have some number
of stomata for regulating gas exchange for photosynthesis. However, the lower epidermis which is the
underside of the leaf have many of it because it is more often in the shade and when it is cooler, which
means evaporation wants to take place as much.
j) Look at the mesophy11 of the leaf. Draw and label it in Figure 11. Is the mesophy11 divided into
palisade and spongy layers (Yes or No)?
Yes, Mesophyll can then be divided into two layers, the palisade layer and the spongy layer
CONCLUSION
According to our data, there are four different types of plant tissues namely, meristematic, epidermal,
vascular, and ground tissue. These types of plant tissues have different functions. The cell of each type
varies in size, shape, behaviour and composition. Meristematic tissue, it is in this region where new cells
are produced. Dermal tissue provides a protective cover for the entire body of a plant. Ground tissue is
responsible for the plant’s metabolic functions. Vascular tissue transports materials like water and
nutrients between the root and the shoot system. They are arranged finely in the regions of the plant’s
organ. For example, in roots, stem and leaves the arrangements of these tissues are the same. The dermal
tissue is located on the outer part, ground tissue is between the dermal and vascular tissue and the
meristematic tissue has three main types of the apical meristem that occurs in the tips of stems and roots,
intercalary meristem takes between the tip and base of stems and leaves and lateral meristem occurs at the
side of stems and roots. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment is achieved.

Tissue Systems of the Plant Body

Cell Types Parenchyma Cells
Parenchyma cells (a) make up the major portion of the primary plant body. They are usually thin-walled
and vary in shape from spherical with many flat surfaces, to elongated, lobed, or folded. As living cells
that are unspecialized initially, they later differentiate to more specialized cells. Parenchyma cells are
found in photosynthetic tissue of green leaves and green stems, in epidermis, below the epidermis in
cortex (b), in pith, and in the vascular system.
As food storage cells, they occur in specialized organs such as bulbs and tubers, in seeds (as endosperm),
and in seed leaves (cotyledons). Specialized parenchyma tissue (also called aerenchyma) with
intercellular air spaces aids water plants in floating Parenchyma cells may appear as secretory forms such
as glandular and stinging hairs, nectaries, and salt glands.
Collenchyma Cells
Collenchyma cells (c) provide elastic support to stems and leaves due to variously thickened primary
walls (d) containing cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and water. These closely arranged, living cells are
short or elongated in shape. They are usually found near the surface in the cortex around vascular bundles
(e) of leaf petioles and stems
Sclerenchyma Cells
Sclerenchyma tissue cells function in mechanical support due to thick lignified secondary walls (1),
which contain large amounts of cellulose and lignin. At maturity, some sclerenchyma cells no longer have
living protoplasts. Fibers and sclerites are types of sclerenchyma cells.
Fibers
Fibers (g) are elongated cells with pitted cell walls (h). They are found in waterconducting tissue, xylem
(i) and food-conducting tissue, phloem (1), along leaf veins and margins, and surrounding vascular
bundles in stems. Examples of commercial fibers are hemp, flax, jute, rattan, and cotton, used in making
rope, mats and baskets
Sclereids
Sclereids are dense (lignified) short cells which may look like stones, rods, bones, stars, or branched
structures. Familiar forms, with dense cell layer of sclereids occur in nut shells, fruit pits, and the seed
coats in legume tree pods (Fabaceae, see 100). Pear (k) and quince fruits contain 'stone cells (1), that is,
nests of sclereids in the fleshy mesocarp (m) tissue
Vascular Cells
Cells of the xylem tissue, tracheid (n), are elongated, have bordered wall pits (0) for water conduction,
and are aligned side by side. Also, water- and mineral conducting cells of the xylem, namely, the vessel
elements (P), have bordered pits (9) in their cell walls. The vessel elements are aligned end-to-end to form
long tubes. The xylem sap passes vertically through the vessel elements via end perforations that may be
parallel slits (r) or a single large opening (s). Conifers and primitive woody flowering have only tracheid
for water conduction.
Sieve cells
Sieve cells are enucleate (minus a nucleus), found in the phloem of conifers and primitive vascular plants
such as ferns. The sieve cells are elongated and thinwalled. Sieve-tube elements (t) are enucleate and
found in more advanced flowering plants. Both sieve cells and sieve-tube elements form long end-to-end
columns called sieve tubes. Sieve plates (u), consisting of primary pit fields, occur in the end walls of
sieve tube elements. In sieve cells, the walls, over their surfaces, contain localized sieve areas containing
many pores that allow for cell-to-cell solute transport. Cell-to cell connecting strands of cytoplasm pass
through the sieve plates.
Companion Cells
Companion cells (v), a specialized type of parenchyma, may be present in varying numbers in association
with sieve tube elements.
 tissue
system such as the vascular system.
Meristems
Throughout the life of a plant, new cells are continuously being formed at sites called meristems.
Meristems consist of undifferentiated cells that are found at shoot tips, at root tips, in the vascular
cambium, and in the cork cambium.
Meristems produce cells that differentiate into specialized tissues of three systems: dermal, ground, and
vascular. Only primary growth (left column), resulting from the activity of the shoot and root apical
meristems, is found in some herbaceous dicots, most monocots, and lower vascular plants. Conifers and
woody dicot shrubs and trees exhibit secondary growth (right column).
Shoot Tissue Systems
The shoot is the portion of the plant above the roots and is composed of stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
The stem apical meristem:
(a) forms leaf primordia
(b) on its flanks and young stem tissues below during the vegetative phase, and
in flowering plants, flower primordia during the reproductive phase.
Dermal Tissue System
The outer layer of the apical meristem gives rise to the epidermis
(c) of the primary plant body. In the stems of plants with secondary growth, the
epidermis is replaced by periderm
(d), commonly called the "outer bark." Periderm consists of the meristematic cork
cambium producing cork (phellem) outward and the pelloderm inward.
Ground Tissue System.
The cells and tissues of the ground tissue system are derived from the apical meristem in the diagram,
ground tissue is manifest as cortex
(e), located between epidermis and vascular bundles, and pith
(f) in the center of the stem.
Vascular Tissue System.
Also derived from the apical meristem, the procambium
(g) initiates the vascular system with cells that differentiate inside into primary
xylem
(h), the water and nutrient-conducting tissue, and outside into primary phloem
(i), the food-conducting tissue. In plants with secondary growth, a persistent
cambium, the vascular cambium
(j), makes possible added layers of secondary xylem
(k) and phloem
(l), resulting in an increase in stem diameter
Root Tissue Systems
The root apical meristem
(m) produces new root cap
(n) cells ahead (below) of the root apex, as well as cells of the protoderm (young
epidermis), ground meristem, and procambium back of the root apex.
Tissue Epidermis
Usually a single layer of cells (a) makes up the epidermis that covers roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. At
the outer surface of the epidermal cells is a continuous layer (cuticle, b) made up of fatty material (cutin).
It is sometimes overlaid with a protective, waterproof coating of wax. Oil, resin, and salt crystals may
also be deposited on the surface.
Functions of the epidermis include mechanical support, protection from desiccation (drought) and against
attack by virulent pathogenic organisms and insects, gas exchange, restriction of water loss by
evaporation (transpiration) through stomates and water and mineral storage. In a surface view, the
epidermal cells appear hexagonal, elongated, or wavy-margined (c) like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Shape
varies with the plant part being examined, such as root, stem, leaf (d), flower parts (e), or fruit Some
plants such as those in the grass family (Poaceae), have parallel rows of elongated cells (1) alternating
with short specialized silica (9) and cork (h) cells, stomata (1) and trichomes. Pits () are present in the
elongated cells.
Guard Cells.
In stomata, pairs of guard cells (k), specialized epidermal cells, control air exchange (CO2 and 02) and
water loss from plants by changing the size of the pore (stoma, 1) that separates their inner walls. A pair
of guard cells can expand or contract because of changes in turgor pressure. Usually, as guard cells
develop high turgor pressure, stomata open, and with reduced turgor pressure, they close.
The stomatal pore (1) allows gas exchange to occur between outside air (m) and inner plant (n) tissues.
Other cells, called subsidiary cells (o), may be associated with guard cells. Trichomes (Hairs). The
epidermis may have various extensions of one or many-celled hairs (trichomes, r) some of which may be
glandular. Glandular excretions include terpenes (essential oils, carotenoids, saponins, or rubber), tannins,
or crystals
(such as salt).
Fragrance in flowers is provided when essential oils in the petals vaporize. Nonglandular hairs may be
found on any shoot surface as well as on seeds such as cotton and willow.
Menthol in mints is produced in hairs on the leaves. It is the primary flavoring constituent of peppermint
too. Many members of the mint family (Lamiaceae, see 113) and aster family (Asteraceae, see 119)
produce terpenes in hairs in leaves and stems that repel herbivores like deer. The glandular hairs on bracts
of the female flowers of hops produce humulone that is responsible for the bitter principle in beer.
The leaves and stems of hemp or marijuana (Cannabis sativa) are covered with hairs that contain over 20
different cannabinoids responsible for hallucinogenic properties of this plant. These constituents also help
in treating patients with glaucoma and allaying the adverse side effects of chemotherapy in treating
cancer.
Nectar Glands.
Nectar glands, found in various flower structures and on stems and leaves, produce a sugar solution.
Some flowers have specialized scent glands (osmophors) in the form of flaps, hairs, or brushes. Glands on
the surface of carnivorous plants produce nectar (s) or enzymatic digestive fluids (t).
Root Hairs.
Root epidermal cells (u) function in the uptake of water and dissolved minerals. Most plant roots produce
extensions from the epidermal cells of trichomes called root hairs (V). They occur above the elongation
zone of the root. At maturity, root hairs collapse as the epidermal cells are sloughed off. Alternatively,
they may remain intact due to lignification of their cell walls. But even these root hair cells may disappear
as bark forms on the root in more mature regions.
In the primary plant body, the vascular system is made up of vascular bundles composed of conducting
elements, interspersed with fibers for support and parenchyma cells for food storage. Procambial cells (a)
give rise to primary xylem toward the inside and primary phloem toward the outside of the plant. In most
monocols, after differentiation of vascular elements, no procambium remains.
Xylem: Water-conducting Tissue
Several types of cells (living and non-living) make up xylem tissue: tracheary elements (b), composed of
tracheids (c) and vessel elements (d), which conduct water and nutrients; fibers (e), which provide
support, and living parenchyma cells (1), which store food. Sclereids may also be present. In monocots,
vessel elements, whose walls have been stretched and broken by elongation, result in spaces (lacunae, g)
in the xylem.
Bordered Pits.
The primary walls of tracheids and vessel elements have depressions called primary pit fields. When
secondary walls (h) are formed, the bordered holes (pit apertures, i) consist of a pit chamber (1) and a pit
membrane (k). Of two adjacent cells, the pits of each are at the same level forming pit-pairs. Composed of
the primary wall of each of the two adjacent cells, the pit membrane is permeable and allows passage of
water and mineral nutrients from cell to cell.
Phloem: Food-conducting Tissue
Phloem tissue is composed of sieve elements of sieve cells or sieve tube elements (o) for food conduction,
fibers (m), and parenchyma cells (n). Companion cells (s) are associated with sieve tube elements. Latex-
producing cells (laticifers) and sclereids may be present.