THE STRUCTURE AND
ANATOMY OF PLANTS
IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module
CELLULAR STRUCTURE
 Cells
 The basic biological unit of plants
 Where chemical reactions of life
occur
 Two types of Cells exist
 Prokaryotes
 Eukaryotes
Image retrieved from: http://becuo.com/microscopicimages-of-plant-cells
CELLULAR STRUCTURE
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
 Cells without a nucleus
 Cells with a nucleus
 Contain genetic material, but not
enclosed in a membrane
 Genetic material is surrounded by a
membrane
 Includes bacteria and cyanophytes
 Also found in humans and other
multi-cellular organisms
 Plant cells differ from animal cells
CELLULAR STRUCTURE
Image retrieved from:http://www.gopixpic.com/640/3d-plant-cell-modelproject-/http:%7C%7C1*bp*blogspot*com%7C_PTWs4DRRfdg%7CTMNPbUW67I%7CAAAAAAAAABI%7CQ0ynmni8FRc%7Cs1600%7Cplant%2Bcell*jpg/
CELLULAR STRUCTURE
 Cell Wall- Made of hemicellulose, add stability to the cell
 Plasma or Cytoplasmic Membrane- Made of phospholipid bilayer membrane
 Protoplasts- Refers to the inside of the cell
 Cytoplasm is the liquid within the cell that includes water, proteins, etc.
 Organelles- Internal structure of the cell
 Chloroplasts- Double membrane plastids with chlorophyll used in
photosynthesis
 Mitochondria- Location of respiration and production of energy
 Nucleus- Contains plants individual chromosomes (DNA)
 Vacuoles- Storage reservoir for the cell
 Endoplasmic Reticulum-Protein synthesis and contains ribosomes
 Ribosomes-Translate RNA into proteins
PLANT TISSUES
 Tissues are a large groups of
organized cells of similar structure
that perform specific functions in
the plant.
 Two general types of tissues are
 Meristematic
 Permanent
Meristematic
 Contain actively dividing cells to
form new tissues
 Categories of meristems
 Apical-Shoots and Roots, produce
new buds and leaves
 Intercalary- Only in monocots
 Lateral/Cambia- Lateral among
shoots, causes thickening of trees
and creates bark
PLANT TISSUES
Simple Permanent Tissues
 Epidermis Cells
 Single layer of cells on the exterior of
stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit
 Two or three layers thick
 Parenchyma
 Made of cells that have thin cell walls
and large vacuoles
Complex Permanent Tissues
 Xylem
 Conducts water and dissolved
nutrients, amino acids, proteins, and
sugars from the roots to other portions
of the plant
 Phloem
 Conducts soluble sugars and
metabolites (proteins, hormones,
minerals, and salts) from the leaves to
other portions of the plant
PLANT TISSUES
Image retrieved from: http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@9.27:158/Biology
PRIMARY PLANT ORGANS:
ROOTS
 Root hairs are responsible for the
absorption of water and minerals
 Once absorbed these pass
through the cortex (root wall)
and into the center of the stele
 In the stele, water and minerals
are moved upward through the
xylem
Image retrieved from: http://sylviateacher.com/2012/10/26/science-6-detailed-plant-anatomy/
PRIMARY PLANT ORGANS:
LEAVES
 The intake of carbon dioxide and
the release of oxygen occurs
through small pores in the leaf
surface called stomata
 Cells within a leaf may be
formed into two layers
 The upper- tightly packed with
palisade cells
 Where photosynthesis occurs
 The lower- loosely packed
with spongy tissue
Image retrieved from: http://www.goldiesroom.org/Note%20Packets/05%20Nutrition/04%20Nutrition-Lesson%204.htm
GROWTH AND CELL DIVISION
Image retrieved from:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/99691/Onecell-gives-rise-to-two-genetically-identical-daughter-cells
REFERENCES
 Parker, R. (2010). Plant and Soil Science: Fundamentals and Applications. Clifton
Park, NY: Delmar.