Seed Plant Structure & Function

Seed Plant Overview:

The plant body consists of two basic parts--- the shoot system and the root system
Shoot system is above ground and includes organs such as leaves, buds, stems, flowers, and fruits
The functions of the shoot system include photosynthesis, reproduction, storage, transport, and hormone production
The root system is below ground and includes roots as well as modified stem structures such as tubers and rhizomes
The functions of the root system include anchorage, absorption, storage, transport, and production of certain hormones



Seed plants contain 2 types of vascular tissue (xylem & phloem) to help transport water, minerals, & food throughout the root & shoot systems

Plant cells have several specialized structures including a central vacuole for storage, plastids for storage of pigments, and a thick cell wall of cellulose

Plant cells are all box-shaped in appearance



Plant cells are arranged into tissues and tissue systems

A simple tissue is composed of only one type of cell; a complex tissue is composed of more than one cell type.

Plants are composed of specialized cells and tissues

In plants, the formation of new cells, tissues and organs is restricted almost entirely to regions known as meristems

Meristems:

There are 3 main types of meristematic tissue in vascular seed plants ---- apical, intercalary, & lateral meristems



Apical Meristem occur at the tips of roots and shoots and are responsible for the length-wise extension of the plant body known as primary growth

Cells in apical meristems are produced by mitosis & then differentiate into specialized cells & tissues



Specialized Plant Cells:

Plants have 3 basic types of cells --- parenchyma, collenchyma, & sclerenchyma

Parenchyma cells are the most abundant & least specialized

Parenchyma are loosely-packed, cube shaped or elongate cells with a large central vacuole & thin cell walls


Parenchyma cells can specialize for various functions (storage, photosynthesis, etc.)

Parenchyma form the bulk of non-woody plants such as the fleshy part of an apple


To be continued
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