Specialised plant cells

• Guard cells properties: in the lower epidermis of leaves, have chloroplasts as photoreceptors for induced opening of stomata, have thin outer walls and thick inner walls and a high mitochondria level.
• Palisade cells: found in the upper epidermis of leaves, contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis, has a large permanent vacuole, cytoskeleton threads and motor proteins, a long shape and is moist.
• Root hair cell properties: found at the tip of roots, increase surface area to absorb water and minerals from soil. Has special carrier proteins form active transport, a very thin cell wall, contains mitochondria, no chloroplasts and has a large permanent vacuole.
• guard cells function: control the opening and closing of stomata to control the rate of gas exchange, changes shape depending on water reflux.
• guard cells

  -Light energy used for ATP, which is broken down into ADP to release energy. ATP powered pump transports hydrogen ions out of the cell.

  -Also actively transports potassium ions into the guard cells, which lowers the water potential inside the cell

  -Water enters the cell by osmosis and the turgid pressure in the cells increases.

  -The thin outer walls bend more easily than the thicker inner walls, so the cell curves and the stoma opens.