BLGY2615
Learning unit 4
Lecture 1
Morphology and anatomy
In this section we will study the morphology and anatomy of
Angiosperms:
• Morphology – external shape and overall appearance of body parts
(roots and shoots)
• Anatomy - the internal (microscopic) structure of body parts
Plant organs
• Organs – structures that
consist of two or more types of
tissues and have a definite
form and function.
• Plant organs include roots,
stems, leaves, flowers and fruit
The three plant tissue systems
• Tissue – a group of cells and
intercellular substances that
function together in one or
more specialized tasks.
• Ground tissue – makes up most of
the primary plant body
• Vascular tissue – Interconnecting
cells tat form transport channels
throughout the plant
• Xylem
• Phloem
• Dermal tissue – protective
covering of the plant body
The three plant tissue systems
• Each tissue system consists of several types of tissues
• Each tissue consists of cells with specializations for different functions
• Simple tissues – consist of only one type of cell
• Complex tissues – consist of two or more types of cells
The cell wall
secondary cell wall Cell 1
primary cell wall
middle lamella cell membrane
Cell 2
Ground tissues: Parenchyma
• Simple tissue consisting of
parenchyma cells
• Parenchyma cells may also occur
as part of other complex tissues
• Parenchyma cells are defined as
cells that:
• have thin primary cells walls
• are alive and capable of dividing
when mature
Ground tissues: Parenchyma
• Specialized types of parenchyma
• Chlorenchyma - photosynthesis
• Storage parenchyma – storage of nutrients for later use
• Aerenchyma – gaseous exchange
• Transport parenchyma – assist with transport in the vascular tissue
Storage Aerenchyma Chlorenchyma Transport parenchyma
parenchyma
Ground tissues: Collenchyma
• Simple tissue consisting of collenchyma cells
• Collenchyma cells :
• Are alive and metabolically active when mature
• Have primary cell walls consisting of layers of cellulose and pectin to form an
unevenly thickened primary wall
collenchyma collenchyma
Ground tissues: Collenchyma
• Collenchyma functions in providing support to organs that are still actively
growing.
• For this reason the thickened primary sell walls of collenchyma have to remain
flexible so the cell walls are thickened, but not hardened by lignin.
• Collenchyma is found directly under the epidermis in young, green stems, the
petioles of leaves and above and below the main vein in leaves.
collenchyma
Ground tissue: Sclerenchyma
• Simple tissue consisting of sclerenchyma cells
• Sclerenchyma cells :
• Are dead when mature
• Have thick secondary cells walls that contain lignin and are, therefore, rigid.
Ground tissue: Sclerenchyma
• Two types:
• Sclereids – variety of shapes
• Fibers – elongated cells
Ground tissue: Sclerenchyma
• Simple tissue consisting of sclerenchyma cells
• Sclerenchyma cells :
• Are dead when mature
• Have thick secondary cells walls that contain lignin and are, therefore, rigid.
• Two types:
• Sclereids – variety of shapes
• Fibers – elongated cells
• Functions as support tissue in mature plant organs – usually
associated with the vascular tissue in stems and sometimes below the
epidermis of stems
Ground tissue: Sclerenchyma
Functions as support tissue in mature plant organs – usually associated
with the vascular tissue in stems and sometimes below the epidermis
of stems
Sclerenchyma in a Eudicot stem
Fibers forming the
vascular bundle cap
Ground tissue: Sclerenchyma
Functions as support tissue in mature plant organs – usually associated
with the vascular tissue in stems and sometimes below the epidermis
of stems
Sclerenchyma in a Monocot stem
Fibers forming
the ground
tissue directly
below the
epidermis
Fibers
forming the
vascular
bundle
sheath
Vascular tissue
• Complex tissue consisting of specialized conducting cells, parenchyma
cells and sclerenchyma fibers
• Xylem conducts water and minerals from the roots to the shoots.
• Phloem conducts carbohydrates from the leaves, where they are
produced during photosynthesis, to the rest of the plant, where they
are stored or used during respiration.
Vascular tissue: Xylem
• Xylem conducts water and minerals from the roots to the shoots.
• It also provides support for upright growth
• Cell types:
• Tracheids – transport of water and minerals
• Vessel elements – transport of water and minerals
• Parenchyma – assist with transport of water and minerals
• Fibers – structural support
Vascular tissue: Xylem
• Tracheids are narrow cells with tapered, overlapping ends
• They are dead at maturity and have secondary cell walls
impregnated with lignin
• Water moves from cell to cell through pits
pits
Vascular tissue: Xylem
• Vessels consist of several vessel elements.
• They are dead at maturity and have
secondary cell walls impregnated with
lignin
• Vessel elements may be elongate to short.
• Vessel elements are broader than
tracheids
• Like tracheids, vessel elements also have
pits through which water is transported
from cell to cell.
pits
Vascular tissue: Xylem
• Vessel elements also have one to many continuous holes
(perforations) at their tips where they connect to neighbouring vessel
elements.
• Water and minerals flow freely from one vessel member to the next
through the perforations.
perforations
Vascular tissue: Phloem
• Phloem transports sugars which are
produced during photosynthesis
• Consists of sieve tube elements, specialized
parenchyma cells known as companion cells, Phloem
as well as fibers and sclereids parenchyma
Phloem
fibers
Vascular tissue: Phloem
Sieve tube elements:
• Elongate cells.
• Have only a primary cell wall - no
secondary cell wall and no lignin.
• Alive at maturity (nucleus and
other organelles are lost)
• End walls contain openings to
form sieve plates
• Orientated end-to-end to form
long tubes.
(A)James D. Mauseth, University of Texas; (B)Courtesy of Professor John Main, Pacific Lutheran University
Vascular tissue: Phloem
Companion cells:
• Connected to sieve tube
elements by plasmodesmata
• Assist sieve tube elements with
uptake and unloading of sugars
• Help to regulate the metabolism
of sieve tube members
Dermal tissue
• Complex tissue consisting of normal epidermal cells as well as several
types of specialized cells
• The epidermis forms a continuous layer over all plant organs
• Epidermal cells are tightly packed and normally occur as a single cell
layer.
• Epidermal cells secrete a cuticle – a waxy coating which prevents
water loss and infection.
• The cuticle is absent from shoot apical meristems and roots.
Dermal tissue: Specialized epidermal cells
Trichomes:
• These are specialized epidermal cells that form hair-like
outgrowths.
• Function:
• Protection from UV light
• Protection from herbivores
• Inhibition of water loss
• Specialized trichomes of carnivorous plants function in
digestion.
Dermal tissue: Specialized epidermal cells
Trichomes types:
• Ranging from glandular to non-glandular.
• Unicellular to multi-cellular and simple to branched.
Dermal tissue: Specialized epidermal cells
Root hairs:
• Unicellular outgrowths of epidermal cells on roots.
• Function in absorption of water and nutrients
Dermal tissue: Specialized epidermal cells
Stomata:
• Stomata are epidermal cells
specialized for gas exchange.
• Each stoma consists of an
opening in epidermis (pore)
surrounded by two guard cells
• Guard cells change shape to
open or close the pore to allow
gaseous exchange
Dermal tissue: Specialized epidermal cells
Stomata:
• CO2 used during photosynthesis
moves into the plant
• Water vapour and O2 leave the
plant
