Plant Cell Specialisation

• 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 as they are underground and do not need to perform photosynthesis
• Xylem cells

  • Have thick walls containing lignin to provide support
  • Have broken down end walls to form long tubes allowing water and dissolved minerals to flow easily
  • Have no internal structures like nucleus, cytoplasm, vacuole or chloroplasts
• Phloem cells

  • Consist of two types: phloem vessel cells and companion cells
  • Phloem vessel cells have no nucleus and limited cytoplasm, with porous end walls (sieve plates) to allow dissolved sugars to move through
  • Companion cells are connected to phloem vessel cells and provide them with energy from their mitochondria
• Specialized plant cells include root hair cells, xylem cells, and phloem cells