Specialized cells in plants

• Root hair cells specialized to take up water by osmosis and mineral ions by active transport from the soil as they are found at tips of roots
• Root hair cells

  • Large surface area
  • Large permanent vacuole
  • Mitochondria
• In root hair cell large surface area due to root hairs means more water can move in
• In root hair cells the large permanent vacuole affects the speed of thecmovement of water from the soil to the cell
• In root hair cells the mitochondria provides respiration for the active transport of mineral ions into the root hair cells
• Xylem cells are specialized to transport wawater and mineral ions up the plant from the root to the shoots
• In xylem cells when they formed a chemical called lignin is deposited which cause the cells to die. They become hollow and are joined end to end to form a continuous tube so water and mineral ions can move through
• Lignin is deposited in spirals which help the cells withstand pressure from movement of water
• Problem cells are specialized to carry the products of photosynthesis (food) to all parts of plant
• In pholem cells the cell wall of each cells form structures called sieve plates when they break down allowing the movement of substance from cell to cell
• In pholem cells the energy keeping them alive is supplied by the mitochondria when they lose so many sub cellular sturcutres