PLANT PHYSIOLOGY LABS

Questions before labs

1. How do you recognize the following in a plant cell:

a. A chloroplast
b. A vacuole
2. Name and characterize the interface between
a. Protoplasm and cell wall
b. Protoplasm and vacuole
c. Cytoplasm and plastids
d. Cytoplasm and nucleus

INDIVIDUAL LAB REPORT

This lab report will be done as an individual project with the exception of the last question
highlighted as a group project. You are advised to do the work and understand the work
individually as this will be the foundation of your lab exam. Individual reports are due on
April 21, 2023 at 5pm. Submission strictly via email.

https://youtu.be/dJN7xWwWbPo LAB ON ROOT STRUCTURE

1. Diagram a growing root tip, and label with the underlined

terms.
For this lab, use an existing image of the x-section (cross section) of Ranunculus
(dicot)root. This section illustrates the basic structural arrangement of mature primary
roots. In both monocots and dicots, a cortex surrounds a central vascular cylinder, or
stele. Beneath the outer epidermis, a broad layer of cortex functions as food storage
tissue. The innermost cortical cells form the endodermis, a single layer of smaller
thick-walled cells enclosing the stele. The endodermis controls movement of water
and solutes into the vascular cylinder.
Among higher plants, the arrangement of xylem and phloem
within the stele is highly variable. Ranunculus shows one common pattern for dicots,
in which xylem (stained red on most
preparations), is at the center of the stele. Bundles of phloem are near the periphery of
the stele, between radiating arms of xylem. Between the vascular tissues and
endodermis is an irregular region of thin-walled cells called the pericycle.
Diagram the root x-section and label to show the location of
each underlined feature.
 2. Leaves
Examine leaf venation patterns on Ginkgo, Zea, and Cercis
herbarium specimens. Ginkgo, a deciduous gymnosperm, has
numerous dichotomously branching veins. This open-dichotomous pattern, with no
minor veins, is considered more primitive than patterns found in most monocots and
dicots. Zea shows the parallelodromous pattern typical of monocots, in which veins
are nearly parallel and connected by commissural bundles. Cercis, a dicot, shows
typical craspedodromous reticulate pattern, with vein endings.

Draw Ginkgo, Zea, and Cercis leaves and label with the
appropriate venation pattern.

QUESTIONS
1. Describe the relationship between growth in the apical meristem of the shoot and the
growth of the shoot as a whole.
2. What is a meristem and how does one recognize when a meristem is present.
3. What are the classifications of leaves? List the types of leaves that exist under
each(attach images).

3. Flowers
Examine the flower model or fresh blossoms, and review the following general terms
used to describe external flower anatomy.
The flower arises from a supporting stalk, or pedicel. In
complete flowers, four whorls of floral appendages are inserted into a cupped or
dome-shaped receptacle. The outermost whorl is made up of sepals, which together
comprise the calyx. The corolla, made up of petals, is inserted just inside the calyx.
Together, the calyx and corolla are called the perianth. If the perianth is not
differentiated into calyx and corolla, the individual members are called tepals. These
non-reproductive flower parts provide protection during flower development and later
may attract pollinators. (Wind pollinated angiosperms usually do not have petals.)
The male reproductive structures, or stamens, are inserted inside the petals. Usually,
each stamen is made up of a slender filament ending in enlarged pollen-producing
anthers. One or more female reproductive structures or carpels (pistils) are at the
centre of the flower. Typically, each carpel is made up of:
(l) an enlarged ovary, bearing the ovules; (2) an elongated style, through which the
pollen tubes grow toward the ovary; and (3) a broad stigma, where pollen grains
adhere and germinate.
4. The Fertilized, ripened Ovary is called” Fruit”. The fruit wall is called” Pericarp”. The
fruit developed from Ovary is called ‘True fruit’. Fruit developed from other floral
parts in addition to ovary is called ‘False fruit’. Or ‘Pseudo carp’.

Recall that flower parts of monocots generally occur in

threes or multiples of three, and those of dicots in fours or fives or multiples of four
or five.
Questions
1. Draw a generalized flower and label to show the location of
each underlined term in the text above.
2. What is phyllotaxy? Classify:
3. Fruits are classified into 3 main types. List the classes and state the differences, citing
an example for each: (Insert images)

5. Cell Types and Tissues

Introduction
This unit surveys the basic cell types and tissues that make up the bodies of higher
plants. Individual cells are classified as three types--parenchyma, collenchyma or
sclerenchyma-- according to cell wall structure. These categories also are used to
classify simple tissues, masses of cells made up of only one cell type. Thus,
parenchyma is a simple tissue made up of parenchyma cells. Simple tissues often are
organized into complex tissue, containing more than one cell type. Xylem, for
example, may be thought of as a complex tissue made up of conducting and
supporting sclerenchyma and associated parenchyma.
Simple and complex tissues function within three major
tissue systems. The dermal system (epidermis and periderm), forms the outer
protective covering of the plant. The vascular system (xylem and phloem) conducts
water and nutrients and provides structural support. The ground system (pith,
mesophyll, and cortex) forms a supporting matrix for the vascular tissues and
performs a variety of metabolic functions.

6. Primary Stems
Introduction
This exercise deals with the anatomy of primary stems The
vascular structure of stems may be highly complex, due to the
production of leaves, lateral branches, and reproductive
structures. Adaptation has produced a staggering variety of
morphologies and specialized functions. Yet the stems of all
seed plants, viewed in x-section, show the same basic pattern of epidermis, cortex,
and stele. Nearly all are siphonosteles, with vascular bundles arranged in a single ring
(dicots and
gymnosperms) or in a more complex pattern (monocots).

Parenchyma
The "original" plant cell in evolutionary terms, parenchyma
remains the most abundant cell type and most common tissue of the ground system.
Like most parenchyma, these cells have only thin primary cell walls, composed of
cellulose and hemicellulose.
Note also the presence of numerous intercellular spaces, formed during growth by
the separation of adjacent primary walls through the middle lamellae (schizogenous
origin). Parenchyma cells contain living protoplasts at maturity, and carry out a
variety of metabolic functions, including photosynthesis, transport and storage. These
 structural parenchyma cells in Zea mays also function in food storage.
Sclerenchyma
Sclerenchyma cells are placed in two categories according
to function: mechanical sclerenchyma (fibers and sclereids); and conducting
sclerenchyma (xylem tracheary elements). Sclerenchyma cells have rigid, usually
lignified secondary walls, deposited inside the primary wall after cell elongation has
stopped. In mature tissues, sclerenchyma cells often lack protoplasts.
Collenchyma
In herbaceous stems and leaf petioles, collenchyma typically
forms a continuous supporting cylinder beneath the epidermis.
Like parenchyma, collenchyma cells usually have only primary
(non-lignified) cell walls, remain alive at maturity, and are
capable of resuming meristematic activity. Collenchyma's
thickened primary walls are strong but plastic, and are capable of stretching to
accommodate growth.

QUESTIONS
1. Many metabolites are stored or accumulated as reserves in the plant organs and
therefore in plant tissues. Briefly discuss where do the parenchyma cells store
metabolites and water.
2. Parenchyma cells have extreme morphological variations; why do you thimk that
is?
3. List three differences among parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma.
4. Can parenchyma be considered as a “meristematic tissue”?
Angiosperm (To be handed in as a group on 6th April 2023)
Purpose: To examine and compare the structure of monocots and dicots
Procedure:
1) Draw and label a typical complete flower. What is the function of each part?
2) Examine a tulip. (Use google images extensively)
i. How are the veins arranged in the leaves?
ii. How are the floral parts arranged?
iii. Based on the answers, how do you suppose the vascular bundles (xylem and
iv. phloem) are arranged in the stem?
v. Is this a monocot or a dicot? Give other examples of this group of angiosperm.
Using a dissecting microscope, carefully dissect the flower in half - make a
labelled drawing of what you see.
3) Examine a rhododendron. (Use google images)
i. How are the veins arranged in the leaves?
ii. How are the floral parts arranged?
iii. Based on these two questions, how do you suppose the vascular bundles are
iv. arranged in the stem?
v. Is this a monocot or a dicot? Give other examples of this group of angiosperms.
Using a dissecting microscope, carefully dissect the flower in half - make a
labelled drawing of what you see.
4) What similarities and differences do you notice between the two flowers?
5) Draw a labelled diagram of the life cycle of a typical flowering plant. (Just the highlights)
Briefly explain the life cycle.
i. What are angiosperms dependent upon for reproduction?
ii. How are angiosperm seeds different from gymnosperm seeds?
iii. If a plant had only female flowers, how would reproduction occur?
iv. What is meant by double fertilization?
6) Compare how angiosperms and gymnosperms have adapted to land. (Structure,
reproduction)
Observations: Drawings and answers to questions.
Conclusion: Discuss purpose.
Part 2
1. Explain alternation of generations (life cycle) of gymnosperms
2. What are microspores and megaspores? Where are they produced?
3. What is fertilization?
4. What is pollination?
5. Explain the difference between fertilization and pollination.
6. What is a pollen tube?
7. a) What is meristem tissue?
b) Explain the function of the two types of meristem tissue: apical and lateral.