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Plant Modifications

The document discusses various modifications of plant roots and stems, highlighting their specialized functions such as support, storage, and gas exchange. It categorizes modified stems into underground, subaerial, and aerial types, providing examples for each. Additionally, it explains specific adaptations like tendrils, thorns, and fleshy structures that aid in survival and propagation.

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1 views39 pages

Plant Modifications

The document discusses various modifications of plant roots and stems, highlighting their specialized functions such as support, storage, and gas exchange. It categorizes modified stems into underground, subaerial, and aerial types, providing examples for each. Additionally, it explains specific adaptations like tendrils, thorns, and fleshy structures that aid in survival and propagation.

Uploaded by

Navya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PLANT

MODIFICATIONS
• Roots are the part of the plant which is
mainly used for support and anchorage of
plants.
• Some of the roots like carrot and radish are
modified to perform a special function like
storage of food. The food stored in the roots
is utilized during unfavorable conditions.
• Roots like Rhizophora, are modified for
gaseous exchange. They have minute pores
which help to exchange gases.
• Stilt roots provide mechanical support to the
plant e.g., sugarcane.
• Climbing roots provide aerial support to the
plant e.g., vanilla.
• Clinging roots provide mechanical support to the
plants e.g., orchids.
• Sucking roots helps to withdraw nutrition from
other parts of the plant e.g., cuscuta.
• Floating roots help the aquatic plants to store air
e.g., water lily.
• Assimilatory roots perform photosynthesis e.g.,
trapa.
• Modified stems can be categorized into three
types:
1.Underground – Rhizome, Bulb, Corm, Tuber
2.Subaerial – Runner, Sucker, Offsets, Stolon
3.Aerial – Tendrils, Thorn, Bulbils, Cladode,
Phylloclade
• As the name suggests, these are present
underground. They serve various purposes such
as storage of food, propagation and
perennation. They can be identified from roots
by the presence of nodes and internodes. They
help in propagation through asexual
reproduction and help the plant survive a period
of dormancy. They provide protection from
grazing by animals and environmental stress
1.Rhizome – It runs parallel to the ground, the upper portion
can produce scaly leaves and the bottom portion can give rise
to adventitious roots. They contain, nodes, internodes and
buds.
They store food.
2.Examples: Ginger, turmeric.
3.Banana contains rootstock, which is rhizome growing
vertically.
4.Bulb – Stem is reduced and surrounded by scale leaves,
modified bulbs can be seen.Examples: Tulips, Lilies, Daffodils,
Onion, Garlic
5.Corm – It is a short upright stem, covered with scaly leaves. It
is hard as compared to bulbs.Examples: Colocasia, Yam,
Saffron
6.Tuber – Here the terminal of the stem is fleshy and stores
• Subaerial Stem Modifications
• These types of stems are present on the ground or partially
underground. They are present mostly in plants, which are
short-lived and have a weak and herbaceous stem. The stem
is used for faster propagation.
1.Runner – It originates from the elongation of the basal
internode and runs horizontally over the ground. It carries bud
and anchors the soil with the help of root development at
nodes. It gives rise to a new plant.Examples: Grasses,
Cynodon, Oxalis
2.Stolon – A short and weak aerial branch arises from the main
axis it bends down and touches the ground forming roots. A
new plant develops there.Examples: Mint, Strawberry
1.Sucker – Sucker arises from the underground
portion of the stem, it grows horizontally under
the soil and then comes above the ground. It
develops adventitious roots and shoots with
leaves and forms a new
plant.Examples: Chrysanthemum, banana,
pineapple.
2.Offsets – offset at right angles to its length"They are
found mostly in aquatic plants. A lateral branch
arises having short internodes. At nodes,
rosettes of leaves develop at the upper portion
and roots below.Examples: Pistia, Eichornia
• Aerial Stem Modification
• In some plants, the aerial part of the stem and buds
get modified to perform various functions such as
support, climbing, photosynthesis and vegetative
propagation.
1.Tendrils – These are coiled and a delicate part,
which are used for climbing. They develop from the
axillary bud.Examples: grapevines, watermelons,
pumpkin, cucumber
2.Thorns – These are developed from axillary buds.
They are pointed, woody and hard, spiny structures,
which provide protection from grazing
animals.Examples: Bougainvillea, lemon
1.Bulbils – It is a modified axillary bud, it
stores food and becomes fleshy. It
detaches from the mother plant and
develops into a new
plant.Examples: Dioscorea
2.Cladode and Phylloclade – These are
modified stems, which are green and
perform photosynthesis. They become
fleshy. Leaves are reduced to spines. These
are commonly found in xerophytic plants to
reduce water loss.Examples: Opuntia,

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