Exercise No.

2
KINDS OF PLANTS TISSUES

Introduction
Plant cells are classified based on the nature of its wall. Parenchyma, collenchyma and
sclerenchyma cell types are identified and described in the first exercise. Each cell type is
modified suited to perform one or more specific functions. A group of cells performing
essentially the same function and of similar structure and origin is called a tissue. There are two
principal types of tissues: undifferentiated or embryonic and differentiated. Each category can be
described base on the cells composing them, their origin, location, and function.
The plant is composed of primary and secondary tissues based on origin. The apical
meristem gives rise to the primary meristematic tissues such as: protoderm, ground meristem and
procambium which in turn differentiate into the three primary tissues: epidermis, ground tissues
and vascular tissues, respectively. The apical meristem activity explains the increase in the
length of the plant. The lateral meristem (cambium) gives rise to the secondary tissues causing
the increase in girth of the plant body.
The cells are organized into three regions: the vascular cylinder, which appears as the
central portion, in some roots and stem the pith; the epidermis; and the cortex, the zone between
the epidermis and the vascular cylinder. Sometimes the pith and the cortex are connected by pith
rays.
The epidermis is the special primary tissue composed of parenchyma cells that covers
and protects all underlying primary tissues. It prevents excessive water loss and yet allows for
exchange of gases necessary for respiration and photosynthesis.
The cortex and the pith are composed of ground tissues such as parenchyma,
collenchyma and sclerenchyma. The innermost layer of the cortex is a single row of cells, the
endodermis. In the root this layer is followed by a special layer of parenchyma cells, the
pericycle, which may revert back to dividing activity giving rise to the lateral roots.
The vascular cylinder is composed of the phloem and the xylem tissues which may be
separated or not by the vascular cambium.
The microscopic structure of the plant shows the arrangement of tissues in an efficient
design which integrates the following different functions: growth, protection, storage,
photosynthesis, transport of materials and reproduction. Based on functions of the following are

Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

the types of tissues:
1. Undifferentiated Tissue – Meristematic Tissues composed of apical, intercalary and
lateral meristems; Growth played by the parenchyma cells that revert back to mitotic division,
meristematic tissues.
2. Differentiated Tissue – a. Protective tissues composed of epidermis and periderm
(Absorption and protection); b. fundamental/ground tissues composed of (i) parenchyma tissues:
Storage – done by parenchyma cells that make up the pith, rays, and cortex; Photosynthesis –
accomplished by parenchyma and collenchymas cells that contain chlorophyll, (ii) collenchyma
tissues plasticity suited for forming ridges, may also contain chloroplast for photosynthesis and
(iii) sclerenchyma tissues: strength and support - sclereids and fiber cells forming gritty portions
of the plant or arranged like cylinders.
5. Vascular tissue: Transport of materials (absorption, osmosis, conduction) – achieved
by the epidermis, endodermis, and the xylem and the phloem tissues making up the vascular
bundle, respectively.

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 6. Sporogenous tissues: Reproduction – achieved by parenchyma cells that undergo
meiotic division giving rise to the pollen and the egg.

Objective
This activity aims to identify the differentiated tissues meristematic (apical and lateral
meristems), epidermis (epidermal cells, trichomes, guard cells and etc.); periderm (phellem,
phelloderm and phellogen); fundamental (parenchyma, collenchymas, and sclerenchyma); and
conductive (phloem and xylem) tissues; and to determine the regions where they are located.

Materials
Prepared slides of:
Coleus blumei (mayana) shoot tip Ficus elastica leaf c.s
Pinus sp. (pine) stem c.s Zea mays leaf c.s.
Sambucus (sauco) stem c.s Pinus sp. needle c.s.
Commelina benghalensis (alikbangon) root c.s

Procedure
Draw the plant materials specified in figs. 2.1-2.6 and label the tissues and the regions
(underlined words). The drawing should be numbered as fig. 2.1 mayana, fig. 2.2 pine, fig. 2.3
Indian rubber tree, fig. 2.4 corn, fig. 2.5 alikbangon and fig. 2.6 sauco. Write the scientific name
inside the parenthesis after the common name.
A. Examine the embryonic, generative or meristematic tissues - they are composed of
parenchyma cells capable of cell division, found at the tip of the roots and shoots
(apical), between differentiated or mature cells forming a ring across the axis
(intercalary) and laterally forming bundles parallel to the axis (lateral-the cambium).
These bring about growth in length and in diameter.

1. Observe the prepared slides of the following:

a. Mayana (Coleus blumei) shoot tip longitudinal section: note the tissue composing
the tip of the shoot. Observe under the microscope using the scanner, then view under
LPO and HPO to examine closely the cells. Draw the structure and label the apical
meristem.

Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

b. Pine (Pinus sp.) stem cross section: note the tissue that composed the vascular
cambium and cork cambium. Observe under the microscope using the scanner. Then
view under the LPO, and shift to the HPO to examine closely the individual cells. Draw
and label the vascular and cork cambium.

B. Examine the differentiated mature tissues (composed of cells which are products of the
meristematic activity and had assumed particular function). Observe the:
1. Protective tissue - this is composed of parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells forming
the outer covering of the plant body.
a. Epidermis – outermost layer of the primary plant body composed of
parenchyma cells; epidermal cells may contain crystals, Calcium carbonate called
cystolith in the prepared slide of Indian rubber tree leaf cross section and calcium
oxalates (raphides, druse, rossete, etc.). Include also are the following: trichomes
in prepared slides of mayana shoot longitudinal section, guard cells, in pine

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 needle cross section and bulliform cells, known to be responsible for the rolling
and folding of leaves, in the prepared slide leaf cross section of corn. The root
epidermal cells may also form extensions called root hairs. The epidermis
originates from the protoderm.
b. Periderm – this is composed of parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells
which replace the epidermis that grows for more than a single season. It is
composed of three layers: phellem (outermost), phelloderm (innermost) and
phellogen or cork cambium (a layer of cells between the phellem and the
phelloderm). Locate this tissue in the prepared slides of pine and sauco stems
cross section. In the sauco old stem cross section, lenticels (venue for gas
exchange in plants with secondary growth) are formed of mass of phellem cells.
The phellogen and the phelloderm layers can be seen next to the phellem layer.
Draw and label the phellem, phelloderm and phellogen.

2. Fundamental – these are the parenchyma, collenchymas and sclerenchyma tissues,

originating from the ground meristem. The parenchyma and collenchyma tissues may
form the bulk of the softer plant parts such as the pith, the cortex, leaf, fruit and other
massive plant parts. The sclerenchyma may form the greater portion of seeds, nut
shells and gritty masses in pulp. The sclerenchyma tissue may also be fiber or sclereid
cells that form the greater portion of the plant that needs mechanical support. Observe
the parenchyma cells forming layers of cells below the epidermis of Indian rubber
tree leaf cross section, and corn leaf cross section. Observe the sclerified parenchyma
cells next to the epidermis and the endodermal cells in the pine needle. Observe also
the layers of cells below the epidermis (perivascular cells) of sauco stem and that
(pericycle) next to the innermost layer of the cortex (endodermis) of alikbangon root
cross sections. They are composed of collenchymas tissue, lending support to the
shoot and parenchyma cells that revert back to cell division giving rise to the lateral
root, respectively. Observe also the mass of cells that connects the veins to the
epidermis in corn leaf cross section. This mass of cells is composed of fiber
sclerenchyma cells that support the leaf.

3. Conductive – vascular tissues such as phloem and xylem. Both are composed of
parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells originating from the procambium (primary

Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

tissues) or cambium (secondary tissues). Observe them in indian rubber tree leaf,
pine stem and needle, corn leaf, alikbangon root and sauco stem cross sections:
a. Phloem – food conducting tissue usually found outside the xylem,
(sclerenchyma and parenchyma cells that may include sieve cells, sieve tube, and
companion cells).
b. Xylem – water conducting tissue found towards the center (parenchyma
and sclerenchyma cells that may include tracheary elements, vessels and fibers).

4. Reproductive – parenchyma cells that give rise to the pollen in the anther and
the egg in the ovary.

C. Give your conclusion

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 Exercise No. 2
KINDS OF PLANT TISSUES

Name: __________________________________ Date: ________________

Section: _________________________________ Section: ______________

Figure 2.1. _______________________________________________________

Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

Figure 2.2. ________________________________________________________

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Figure 2.3. ___________________________________________________

Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

Figure 2.4. ____________________________________________________

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Figure 2.5. _______________________________________________________

Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

Figure 2.6. _______________________________________________________

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Conclusion
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Bio 103.2: Fundamentals of Plant Biology Laboratory

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