QUESTION: Which tissue stores food in plants?
ANS:
- The tissue that stores food in plants is called parenchyma tissue
- Parenchyma cells are found in various parts of a plant, including the stems, roots, leaves, and fruits.
- They are characterized by their thin cell walls, large central vacuoles, and the ability to store various substances, including food reserves.
- In plants, parenchyma cells can store food in the form of starch, oils, proteins, or other organic compounds.
- These food reserves are stored in the vacuoles or within specialized structures called plastids, such as amyloplasts for starch storage or oleoplasts for oil storage.
- The storage of food in parenchyma tissue serves important functions in plants, such as providing a reservoir of energy and nutrients during times of growth, development, or periods of dormancy.
- It allows plants to store excess carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis for later use in various metabolic processes, including growth, reproduction, or as a source of energy during unfavorable conditions.
- Starchy Parenchyma found in organs such as tubers (e.g., potatoes) and rhizomes (e.g., ginger), where it stores starch as a source of energy.
- Endosperm: A specialized tissue found in seeds, particularly in monocotyledonous plants. It serves as a nutrient-rich storage tissue to support the developing embryo.
- Fruit Parenchyma: In certain fruits, parenchyma tissue stores sugars and other carbohydrates, contributing to the fruit’s sweetness and serving as a food source for seed dispersal.
| Characteristic | Description |
| Location | · Found throughout the plant body, including stems
· Roots · Leaves · Fruits |
| Functions
|
· Storage: Parenchyma cells store food reserves, such as starch, oils, proteins, or other organic compounds.
· Photosynthesis: Some parenchyma cells carry out photosynthesis, containing chloroplasts for producing energy-rich compounds. · Gas Exchange: Parenchyma tissue allows for gas exchange between cells, contributing to plant respiration. · Wound Healing: Parenchyma tissue aids in the regeneration and repair of injured plant tissues. |
| Cell Structure | · Thin cell walls
· large central vacuoles · living protoplasts |
| Specializations | · Starchy Parenchyma: Specialized parenchyma cells that store starch as a source of energy.
· Water-Storing Parenchyma: Parenchyma cells in succulent plants that store water, contributing to their drought resistance. |
| · Aerenchyma: Parenchyma tissue with large air spaces, enabling buoyancy in aquatic plants or facilitating gas exchange in roots. | |
| Examples | · Parenchyma tissue is found in a wide range of plant organs, including pith, cortex, mesophyll, and various storage tissues.
· Examples include potato tubers, leaf mesophyll, fruit pulp, and the inner parts of stems and roots. |