Plant Cell Specialisation

Cards (6)

  • Differentiation
    The process where cells become specialized
  • Root hair cells
    • Increase the surface area of the root to absorb water and dissolved minerals more effectively
    • Do not contain chloroplasts
  • Xylem cells
    • Have very thick walls containing lignin to provide support
    • Have no internal structures like nucleus, cytoplasm, vacuole or chloroplasts to allow easy flow of water and dissolved minerals
  • Phloem cells
    • Consist of two types: phloem vessel cells with no nucleus and limited cytoplasm, and companion cells with mitochondria to provide energy to the phloem vessel cells
    • Phloem vessel cells have porous end walls called sieve plates to allow flow of dissolved sugars
  • Xylem cells form long tubes that carry water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves
  • Phloem tubes carry dissolved sugars up and down the plant