CHAPTER

3 Tissues
We know that living organisms are made up of cells. In The Lesson
On the basis of number of cells, these are classified as o Why Plant and Animal Tissues are
unicellular and multicellular organisms. Unicellular Different
organisms are those organisms in which all metabolic o Plant Tissues
activities are carried out by a single cell, for exanmple,
Amoeba. Multicellular organisms are made up of a number Meristematic Tissues or Meristems
o Permanent Tissues
of cells. These cells group together to perform a specific o Animal Tissues
function. The different groups of cells are specialised to
perform different activities, e-g., respiration, circulation, o Epithelial Tissues (Epithelium)
reproduction, locomotion. In other words, division of o Muscular Tissues
labour occurs in multicellular organisms. Connective Tissues
|These groups of cells, which have specific structure, o Nervous Tissues
position and function are called tissues! All the cells
which together constitute a tissue have a common origin. Thus, a( tissue is defined as a group of cells
having a common origin and function) It can also be referred to as an organisational intermediate
between cells and complete organism.
Significance of tissues
Division of labour in the multicellular organisms have been
Do You Know
brought in due to formation of tissues. The tissues combne to rorm The term tissue was introduced by
Bichat in 1792. The study of tissues
organs and organs form organ systems. Alltheorgan systems combine s called histology. Meyer in1819
together and form an organism (individual) which performs various coined the term histology.
Iiving functions like adaptation and reproduction. Due to division of Marcelo Malpighi, an talian
ldbour, the organisation and efficiency of multicellular organisms have anatomist, is considered as the
founder of histology.
Improved leading to higher rate of survival of these organisms.
Cells Tissues |Organs Organ Systems Organism

S1WHY PLANT ANDANIMAL TISSUES ARE DIFFERENT

Ne know that plants and animals have similar life processes but they are entirely different types of
OTganisms. They have different body structures which are specialised to perform various functions. Due
todifferences in their structure and function their body tissues are also different.
Plants are stationary, i.e, they are fixed at adefinite place whereas animals move from one place to
hother in search of food and shelter. Plants are autotrophic, ie, they prepare their own fxod with the
helpof carbon dioxide and sunlight through photosVnthesis, whereas animals are heterotrophic

Tissues 139
 Plants grow throughout their life, but their growth is confined to certain parts only. Some plant tissues
lose their ability to divide after a certain time. Contrary to this, in animals growth is uniform and is not
confined to any particular region. Unlike plants, animals grow only till acertain time period in their lives.
Table 3.1Differences between plant and animal tissues
[Link]. Parameter Plant tissues Animal tissues
1. Organisation Organisation of plant tissues is More complex organisation is
simple. found due to division of
labour in animal tissues.
2 Purpose Tissue organisational pattern is towards Tissue organisational pattern is
stationary habit of plants. towards active locomotion in
animals.
3. Type of tissue Abundance of dead supportive tissues Abundance of living tissues
in comparison to living tissues. in comparison to dead tissues.
4. Differentiation Tissues are divided into meristematic No such differentiation
of tissues and permanent tissues. is observed.
5. Duration of Plants grow continuously throughout Animals grow up to a certain
growth life due to meristematic tissues.
period of life, i.e., reaching maturity.
6. Energy Plant tissues need less energy for Animal tissues require more
maintenance.
maintenance energy.
3.2 PLANTTISSUES
The higher plants consist ofa multicellular body which is
made up of
form groups and are called tissues. The plant tissues may be classified various kinds of cells. These cells
into two broad groups
(i) Meristematic tissues (ii) Permanent tissues
Plant Tissues

Meristematic Tissues
Permanent Tissues

Apical Lateral Intercalary

Meristem Meristem Simple Complex
Meristem Permanent Tissues Permanent Tissues

Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma Phloem

Xylem
+ Sieve tubes Tracheids
Fibres Sclereids
Companion cells Vessels
Phloem Xylem
parenchyma parenchyma

+ Phloem fibres -Xylem fibres

Fig. 3.1 Classification of plant tissues

140 Biology-IX
 3 MERISTEMATIC TISSUESOR MERISTEMS
The group of living cells with the ability to divide repeatedly and form new cells is called meristematic
tissue) The cells forming the tissue are called meristematic cells. Initially, the meristematic cells are similar
ut. in due ourse of tinme, they grow, differentiate and mature into parts of various permanent tissues.
1.5.1 Characteristics of Meristematic Tissues
(Ö) The cells are similar in structure having thin and elastic cell walls made up of cellulose.
(ii) The cells are rounded, polygonal, rectangular or oval.
(iii) The intercellular space is absent and cells are compactly cytoplasm
arranged. -cell wal|

(iv) Each cell has a large prominent nucleus and possesses a dense
cvtoplasm.
(v) Theprotoplasm of meristematic cells have a few small vacuoles nucleus
or no vacuoles at all.
Fig. 3.2 Meristematic tissue
(vi) The cells have the ability to divide repeatedly.
3.3.2 Types of Meristematic Tissues
The meristematic tissues are found in the growth regions of the plants, i.e., the regions of plant that grovw
like tips of stems and roots. On the basis of the region in which they are found, meristematic tissues are of
three types-apical meristem, lateral meristem and intercalary meristem.
A. Apical meristem apical
meristem
meristem is located at the
Apical
growing apices bf main and lateral shoots intercalary
meristem
and roots and also apices of leaves. It is
responsible for the linear growth of a
plant organ. Elongation of root and shoot apical meristen
occurs due to shoot apical meristem lateral
(SAM) and root apical meristem (RAM). meristem

respectively. Apical meristem causes root cap

increase in the_height of the plant by
elongation of root and stem. This is called Fig. 3.4 Longitudinal section of root apex
Fig. 3.3 Apical meristem
primary growth. showing the position of meristem
B. Lateral meristem
The lateral meristem possesses certain initials which divide in one
plane. The diameter (girth)of the plant organ, i.e., shoot and root,
increase due to the lateral meristem. This increase in girth of root and
stem is called secondary growth. There are two types of lateral
meristems- (i) cork cambium (lies beneath the bark) and (ü) vascular Phibem
cambium [found in vascular bundles (xylem and phloem) of dicot xvlem
roots and stems]. The activity of cambium brings about secondary
cambium
growth in plants. Fig. 3.5 Lateral meristematic tissue
C. Intercalary meristem
The intercalary meristem is situated in between the regions of permanent tissues. It is usually tound
at the base of nodes and internodes or the base ofleaf. The leaves and internodes increase in ength dueto
Tissues 141
intercalary meristem. In grasses, the intercalary meristem regenerates the parts removed by grazine
herbivores
3.3.3 Functions of Meristematie Tissues sCIENCE in Life
(i) All the other plant tissues develop from Meristematic cells have the ability to divide repeatedly and
give rise to various types of cells through differentiation
meristematic tissues. This characteristic of meristematic cells is utilised in nlant
(ii) The plants develop new leaves, branches tissue culture. Tissue culture is a technique to produce
of stem and roots, flowers, fruits and root clones of plants by using tiny cell masses, These cells are
hair due to meristematic tissues. meristematic cells generally taken from stem tip, bud
(ii) Meristematic cells help to heal the (tip and root tip. Tissue culture is advantageous over
cell traditional methods of plant propagation as it is quick
injury. doesn't require seeds or pollination, offer reduced risk to
(iv) Meristematic tissues help the root and diseases and produce exact copy of plant with desirable
stem
to increase in length, diameter and girth. characteristics.

Activity: I
Aim: To show that growth of onion root tips occur
due to presence of meristenmatic tissue
Materials required: Two glass jars, two onion bulbs of similar size,
water and razor blade
Procedure:
onion
Label the glass jars Yand Z and fill them with
water. bulb
Place the onion bulbs on the jar in such a way that the roots touch the water
(See Fig. 3.6).
Leave the jars for few days and observe the root growth
Record your finding in the table.
daily.
After 3 days, cut the root tip of the onion bulb in
the jar again. jar Zand place the bulb in water

Observe the root growth in onion bulbin both jars for five
Record your observation. days. Jar Y Jar Z
On the basis of your observation, Fig. 3.6 Activity to show the
(i) Which of the two onions has
answer the questions given below: presence of meristematic tissues
(ii) Dothe roots continue longer roots?
growing even after their tips were
(ii) Why would the tips stop
growing in jar Bafter we cut them? removed?
Observation:
Observation table:
Days Length of roots (in mm)
Before cutting the root
tip ofonion in iar Z After cutting the root
Glass Jar tip of onion in jar Z
1 2 3 4
Jar Y 5
7
Jar Z

(i) The onion in jar Yhas longer roots

ned erowing, while the because the root tips of
onion in jar Ycontinued onion in iarZ were Cut, which thus
to grow.
142 Biology-IX
 ii) No, after we removed the tips, the roots ofonion stopped growing in jar Z.
(ii) The tips stopped growing in jar Z after we cut them because the apical meristem which is present in
the growing tip of root was cut on day 3.
Conclusion:
We can conclude that plants grow in certain specific regions due to the presence of meristematic tissues.

3.4 PERMANENT TISSUES

have
The groups of cells formed by meristematic tissues, which are fixed at a permnanent position and
lost the ability to divide in plant body are called permanent tissues. The process of taking up a
permanent specific shape, size and function by a mass of cells is called differentiation.
34.1 Characteristics of Permanent Tissues
(i) They consist of mature cells havinga definite shape, size and function.
(i) The cells do not possess the ability to divide.
(iii) These may be living, vacuolated cells (with cytoplasm and thin walls) or dead cells (without
cytoplasm and thick walls). The thickeningof cell wal may be regular or irregular.
Table 3.2 Differences between meristematic tissues and permanent tissues
[Link]. Parameter Meristematic tissues Permanent tissues

1. Nature of cell Cells are small, spherical or Cells are large, differentiated
polygonal and undifferentiated. and of various shapes.
2. Intercellular Intercellular spaces are absent. Intercellular spaces are often
spaces present.
3. Cell wall Thin and elastic May be thin or thick
4. Vacuole Vacuoles are nearly absent. A large central vacuole is present.
5. Nucleus Large and prominent nucleus is Nucleus is less conspicuous.
found.
6. Division Cells undergo repeated and Cells do not have the ability
quick divisions. to divide.
7. Tissue Simple tissues Simple, complex or specialised
tissues
8. Metabolism Cells are metabolically active Cells are metabolically less active
and rate of metabolism is low. and rate of metabolismis high.
9. Living Cells are living. Cells may be living or dead.
10. Cellorganelles Cell organelles are simple. Cell organelles are well-developed.
11. Function These tissues help the plant to These tissues give protection and
grow. support to the plant. They also
help in storage, conduction and
photosynthesis.

The permanent tissues are further divided into two types- (i) simple permanent tissues and
) complex permanent tissues.