Name: plant tissue systems and growth
Uploaded: 2025-05-22T09:05:46.000Z
Duration: 1 min 18 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Florida Department of Education

High School

Life Science

SC.912.L.14

SC.912.L.14.10

Plant Tissues

Plants are composed of leaves, stems, and roots. The primary function of a leaf is photosynthesis, while the stem lends support and the root anchors the plant allowing the absorption of water and minerals.
Each plant organ comprises meristematic or actively dividing tissues that specialize to become non-dividing permanent tissues. Meristems differentiate into three main types.
Dermal tissue covers the plant in a waxy cuticle that prevents water loss through evaporation. Specialized pores in the cuticle, called the stomata, allow the exchange of gasses.
Vascular tissue such as the xylem transports water and dissolved nutrients from the root throughout the plant. In contrast, phloem distributes organic compounds from sites of photosynthesis to other plant parts.
Ground tissue performs different metabolic functions depending on the cell type and location. For example, parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma provide a supporting matrix to the vascular tissue, help store water, and dissolved sugars, and provide structural support to the stem.

plant tissues

Plants are multicellular eukaryotes with tissue systems made of various cell types that carry out specific functions. Different tissues work together to perform a unique function and form an organ. Organs working together form organ systems. Vascular plants have two distinct organ systems: a shoot system and a root system. The shoot system consists of two portions: the vegetative (non-reproductive) parts of the plant, such as the leaves and the stems, and the reproductive parts of the plant, which include flowers and fruits. The shoot system generally grows above ground, absorbing the light needed for photosynthesis. The root system, which supports the plants and absorbs water and minerals, is usually underground.
Plant tissue systems comprise meristematic and permanent (or non-meristematic) tissue. Cells of the meristematic tissue are found in meristems, which are plant regions of continuous cell division and growth. Meristematic tissue cells are either undifferentiated or incompletely differentiated and continue to divide and contribute to the plant&#39;s growth. In contrast, permanent tissue consists of plant cells that are no longer actively dividing.
Meristematic tissues consist of three types, based on their location in the plant. Apical meristems contain meristematic tissue located at the tips of stems and roots, which enable a plant to extend in length. Lateral meristems facilitate growth in thickness or girth in a maturing plant. Intercalary meristems occur only in monocots, at the bases of leaf blades, and at nodes (the areas where leaves attach to a stem). This tissue enables the monocot leaf blade to increase in length from the leaf base; for example, it allows lawn grass leaves to elongate even after repeated mowing.
Secondary tissues are either simple (composed of similar cell types) or complex (consisting of different cell types). Dermal tissue, for example, is a superficial tissue that covers the outer surface of the plant and controls gas exchange. Vascular tissue is an example of a complex tissue made of two specialized conducting tissues: xylem and phloem. Xylem tissue transports water and nutrients from the roots to different plant parts. It includes three cell types: vessel elements, tracheids (both of which conduct water), and xylem parenchyma. Phloem tissue transports organic compounds from photosynthesis to other plant parts and consists of four different cell types: sieve cells (which conduct photosynthates), companion cells, phloem parenchyma, and phloem fibers. Unlike xylem conducting cells, phloem conducting cells are alive at maturity. The xylem and phloem always lie adjacent to each other. In stems, the xylem and the phloem form a vascular bundle. In roots, this is termed the vascular stele or vascular cylinder.
Adapted from Openstax biology 2e, section 25.1

Plants are multicellular eukaryotes with tissue systems made of various cell types that carry out specific functions. Different tissues work together to ...

Education

JoVE Core

Cell Biology

Unit 1

Plant Cell Structure and Organization

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

plant tissue systems and growth

Plant tissue systems help plants grow, support themselves, and move materials through their bodies. Plants are multicellular eukaryotes with cells arranged into tissues, tissues that work together to form organs, and organs that work together to form organ systems. Vascular plants have two main organ systems: the shoot system and the root system.

The shoot system includes the vegetative parts of the plant, such as leaves and stems, as well as the reproductive parts, which include flowers and fruits. It usually grows above ground and captures the light needed for photosynthesis. The root system is usually underground. It supports the plant and absorbs water and minerals.

Plant tissue systems include meristematic tissue and permanent, or non-meristematic, tissue. Meristematic tissue is found in meristems, which are regions where cells keep dividing and the plant keeps growing. These cells are undifferentiated or only partly differentiated. Permanent tissue is made of cells that are no longer actively dividing.

Meristematic tissue can be apical, lateral, or intercalary, based on where it is found in the plant. Apical meristems are at the tips of stems and roots and allow the plant to grow longer. Lateral meristems help the plant grow thicker. Intercalary meristems occur only in monocots, at the bases of leaf blades and at nodes, which are the points where leaves attach to a stem. This tissue lets a monocot leaf blade keep getting longer from the base, as seen in lawn grass after repeated mowing.

Secondary tissues may be simple, meaning they are made of similar cell types, or complex, meaning they contain different cell types. Dermal tissue is a superficial tissue that covers the outside of the plant and controls gas exchange. Vascular tissue is a complex tissue made of xylem and phloem.

Xylem transports water and nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant. It contains vessel elements, tracheids, and xylem parenchyma. Vessel elements and tracheids conduct water. Phloem moves organic compounds from photosynthesis to other plant parts. It contains sieve cells, companion cells, phloem parenchyma, and phloem fibers. The conducting cells of phloem stay alive at maturity, unlike the water-conducting cells of xylem. Xylem and phloem lie next to each other. In stems, they form a vascular bundle. In roots, they form the vascular stele, or vascular cylinder.

Plant Tissue Systems and Growth

Plant tissue systems help plants grow, support themselves, and move materials through their bodies. Plants are multicellular eukaryotes with cells arranged into tissues, tissues that work together to form organs, and organs that work together to form organ systems. Vascular plants have two main organ systems: the shoot system and the root system. The shoot system includes the vegetative parts of the plant, such as leaves and stems, as well as the reproductive parts, which include flowers and...

plant cell wall

How Plant Cell Walls Support Cells

Plant cell walls give cells shape, protection, and support. This rigid outer layer helps plants stay upright and keeps cells from bursting when they take in water. During cell division, vesicles carry enzymes, proteins, and glucose molecules to the center of the cell. These vesicles fuse again and again to build a cell plate between the two dividing cells. As the cell plate matures, new polysaccharides are added, and the daughter cells form their new cell walls. Cellulose is the main...

tonicity in plants

Plant Cells and Water Balance

Plant cells use tonicity to manage water balance in changing environments. Tonicity is the ability of a cell to gain or lose water based on the solute concentration outside the cell. Many organisms with cell walls, including plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists, rely on this balance to protect cell shape and function. Plants also use several features to reduce water loss in dry conditions. They can store water in vacuoles, close their stoma more often, and develop thick, waxy cuticles. Some...

cellulose and pectic polysaccharides

Plant Cell Wall Support: Cellulose and Pectin

Plant cell walls use cellulose and pectic polysaccharides to give cells shape, support, and protection. Cellulose is the main structural part of the plant cell wall and makes up more than 30% of plant matter. It is also the most abundant organic compound on Earth. Cellulose is an unbranched polysaccharide. It is made of long, linear chains of glucose joined by β(1→4) glycosidic bonds. As plant cells mature, their walls become specialized for cell type and function. Parenchyma cells in leaves...

role of microtubules in cell wall deposition

role-of-microtubules-in-cell-wall-deposition

Microtubules Guide Cellulose Alignment

Microtubules help organize cellulose as plant cell walls are built. These small hollow tubes are found in eukaryotic cells, and they are made from dimers of two globular proteins, α-tubulin and β-tubulin. At about 25 nm in diameter, microtubules are the widest parts of the cytoskeleton. Microtubules also support the cell in other ways. They help cells resist compression. They can serve as tracks for vesicle movement through the cell. During cell division, they can help pull replicated...

plasmodesmata

Plant Cell Communication Through Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata are channels that let plant cells communicate directly with one another. These junctions connect neighboring cells and are built through the shared cell wall. They act like doorways between cells, creating a linked cytoplasm called the symplast. This connection helps move nutrients and other molecules from one plant cell to another. A single plant cell can contain thousands of plasmodesmata, so these passages form a large communication network across the plant. The number and...

cell adhesion in plants

Plant Cell Walls and Cell-to-Cell Links

Plant cell walls help neighboring cells stay attached. Their rigid walls are built from cell wall polysaccharides that support cell-cell adhesion. In primary cell walls, two connected polysaccharide networks work together: a pectin matrix and a second network made of cellulose and hemicelluloses. Pectins are complex heteropolymers, or polymers made from more than one kind of sugar. They contain mostly negatively charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid. They also include neutral glycosyl...

key terms and concepts

Explore how meristematic, dermal, and vascular tissues help plants grow, move water and sugars, and form shoot and root systems.

Plant Tissue Systems and Growth | JoVE K12

cell biology

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SC.912.L.14.7

A. Cells have characteristic structures and functions that make them distinctive.

B. Processes in a cell can be classified broadly as growth, maintenance, reproduction, and homeostasis.

C. Life can be organized in a functional and structural hierarchy ranging from cells to the biosphere.

D. Most multicellular organisms are composed of organ systems whose structures reflect their particular function.

Plant Tissue Systems and Growth

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