BIO BOTANY [3 Mark each]

Halophiles:

1. Plants that grow in salty environment are called Halophiles.
2. Plant growth in saline habitat developed numerous adaptations to salt stress. The secretion of ions by salt glands is the best known mechanism for regulating the salt content of plant shoots.
3. Salt glands typically are found in halophytes. (Plants that grow in saline environments)

Stomata:

1. Occur in epidermis of leaves, young stems.
2. Stomatal aperture is guarded by two guard cells.
3. The two guard cells are generally surrounded by subsidiary cell.

Hydathodes:

1. Occur at the tip or margin of leaves that are grown in moist shady place.
2. Aperture of hydathodes are surrounded by a ring of cuticularized cells.
3. Subsidiary cells are absent.,

The ground tissue that is present between the upper and lower epidermis of the leaf is called mesophyll. Here, the mesophyll is not differentiated into palisade and spongy parenchyma. All the mesophyll cells are nearly isodiametric and thin walled. These cells are compactly arranged with limited intercellular spaces. They contain numerous chloroplasts.

Primary phloem lies towards the periphery. It consists of protpphloem and metaphloem. Phloem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells and phloem parenchyma. Phloem fibres are absent in primary phloem. Phloem conduct organic foods material from the leaves to other parts of the plant body.

The central part of the stem inner to the endodermis is known as stele. It consists of pericyle, vascular bundles and pith. In dicot stem, vascular bundles are arranged in a ring around the pith. This type of stele is called eustele.

The outermost layer of the root is known as piliferous layer. It consists of single row of thin – walled parenchymatous cells without any intercellular space. Epidermal pores and cuticle are absent in the piliferous layer. Root hairs that are found in the piliferous layer are always unicellular. They absorb waer and mineral salt from the soil. Root hairs are generally short lived. The main function of piliferous layer is protection of the inner tissues.

The central part of the ground tissue is known as pith or medulla. Generally this is made up of thin walled parenchyma cells with intercellular spaces. The cells in the pith generally stores starch, fatty substances, tannins, phenols, calcium oxalate crystals, etc.

One or two layers of continuous or discontinuous tissue present below the epidermis, is called hypodermis. It is protective in function. In dicot stem, hypodermis is generally collenchymatous, whereas in monocot stem, it is generally sclerenchymatous. In many plants collenchyma form the hypodermis.

There are many types of epidermal outgrowths in stems. The unicellular or multicellular appendages that originate from the epidermal cells are called trichomes. Trichomes may be branched or unbranched and one or more one celled thick. They assume many shapes and sizes. They may also be glandular (eg: Rose, Ocimum) or non – glandular.

Stomata are minute pores surrounded by two guard cells. The stomata occur mainly in the epidermis of leaves. In some plants addition to guard cells, specialised epidermal cells are present which are distinct from other epidermal cells. They are called Subsidiary cells. Based on the number and arrangement of subsidiary cells around the guard cells, the various types of stomata are recognised, The guard cells and subsidiary cells help in opening and closing of stomata during gaseous exchange and transpiration.

The differences between tracheids and fibres:

Tracheids	Fibres
1. Not much elongated	1. Very long cells
2. Posses oblique end walls	2. Posses tapering end walls
3. Cell walls are not as thick as fibtres	3. Cell wall are thick and lignified
4. Possess various types of thickenings	4. Possess only pitted thickenings
5. Responsible for the conduction and also mechanical support	5. Provide only mechanical support

Between meristematic tissue and permanent tissue:

Meristematic tissue	Permanent tissue
1. Cells divide repeatedly	1. Do not divide
2. Cells are undifferentiated	2. Cells are fully differentiated
3. Cells are small and Isodiametric	3. Cells are variable in shape and size
4. Intercellular spaces are absent	4. Intercellular spaces are present
5. Vacuoles are absent	5. Vacuoles are present
6. Cell walls are thin	6. Cell walls maybe thick or thin
7. Inorganic inclusions are absent	7. Inorganic inclusions are present

The thin walled, elongated, specialized parenchyma cells, which are associated with die sieve elements, are called companion cells. These cells are living and they have cytoplasm and a prominent nucleus. They are connected to the sieve tubes through pits found in the lateral walls. Through these pits cytoplasmic connections are maintained between these elements. These cells are helpful in maintaining the pressure gradient in the sieve tubes. Usually the nuclei of the companion cells serve for the nuclei of sieve tubes as they lack them. The companion cells are present only in Angiosperms and absent in Gymnosperms and Pteridophytes. They assist the sieve tubes in the conduction of food materials.

The fibres of sclerenchyma associated with the xylem are known as xylem fibres. Xylem fibres are dead cells and have lignified walls with narrow lumen. They cannot conduct water but being stronger provide mechanical strength. They are present in both primary and secondary xylem. Xylem fibres are also called libriform fibres.
The fibres are abundantly found in many plants. They occur in patches, in continuous bands and sometimes singly among other cells. Between fibres and normal tracheids, there are many transitional forms which are neither typical fibres nor typical tracheids. The transitional types are designated as fibre – tracheids. The pits of fibre – tracheids are smaller than those of vessels and typical tracheids.

Fibres are very much elongated sclerenchyma cells with pointed tips. Fibres are dead cells and have lignified walls with narrow lumen. They have simple pits. They provide mechanical strength and protect them from the strong wind. It is also called supporting tissues. Fibres have a great commercial value in cottage and textile industries.

Sclereids are dead cells, usually these are isodiametric but some are elongated too. The cell wall is very thick due to lignification. Lumen is very much reduced. The pits may simple or branched. Sclereids are mechanical in function. They give hard texture to the seed coats, endosperms etc.

Quiescent centre concept was proposed by Clowes (1961) to explain root apical meristem activity. These centre is located between root cap and differentiating cells of the roots. The apparently inactive region of cells in root promeristem is called quiescent centre. It is the site of hormone synthesis and also the ultimate source of all meristematic cells of the meristem.

Histogen theory is proposed by Hanstein (1868) and supported by Strassburgur. The shoot apex comprises three distinct zones.

1. Dermatogen: It is a outermost layer. It gives rise to epidermis.
2. Periblem: It is a middle layer. It gives rise to cortex.
3. Plerome: It is innermost layer. It gives rise to stele.

Apical cell theory is proposed by Hofmeister (1852) and supported by Nageli (1859). A single apical cell is the structural and functional unit. This apical cell governs the growth and development of whole plant body. It is applicable in Algae, Bryophytes and in some Pteridophytes.