<p>We will now look at parenchyma, collenchyma and <a data-lesson="sclerenchyma-tissue" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-and-animal-tissues" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-and-animal-tissues/sclerenchyma-tissue">sclerenchyma</a> cells. Together these tissue types are referred to as <em>ground tissues.</em> Ground <a data-lesson="complex-tissue-structure" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="introducing-animal-diversity" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/introducing-animal-diversity/complex-tissue-structure">tissues</a> are located in the region between epidermal and vascular tissue.</p>
<h2><strong>Parenchyma Tissue </strong></h2>
<p>Parenchyma tissue forms the majority of <a data-lesson="stems" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-form-and-physiology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-form-and-physiology/stems">stems</a> and roots as well as soft <a data-lesson="fruit" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="seed-plants" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/seed-plants/fruit">fruit</a> like tomatoes and grapes. It is the most common type of ground tissue.</p>
<div>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 382px"><img alt="Image" height="433" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/1db0ed4f-345c-4385-b984-ed0ec4b50d05" width="382"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Parenchyma tissue found in cells responsible for storage.</p></div>
</div>
<h3><strong>Table: </strong>Structure and Function of Parenchyma</h3>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">Parenchyma</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Structure</em></td>
<td><em>Function</em></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thin-walled cells.</td>
<td>Thin walls allow for close packing and rapid <a data-lesson="diffusion-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-biology/diffusion-2">diffusion</a> between cells.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Intercellular spaces are present between cells.</td>
<td>Intercellular spaces allow diffusion of gases to occur.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parenchyma cells have large central vacuoles.</td>
<td>This allows the cells to store and regulate ions, waste products and water. Also function in providing support.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Specialised parenchyma cells known as <em>chlorenchyma</em> found in plant <a data-lesson="leaf-arrangement-and-leaf-form" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-form-and-physiology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-form-and-physiology/leaf-arrangement-and-leaf-form">leaves</a> contain chloroplasts.</td>
<td>This allows them to perform a photosynthetic function and responsible for storage of starch.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Some parenchyma cells retain the ability to divide.</td>
<td>Allows replacement of damaged cells.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div>
<div class="ns-school-emp">
<h3>Investigation: <strong>Observing Parenchyma Cells</strong></h3>
<div class="ns-school-defn">
<h3><b>Aim</b></h3>
<p>To observe the structure of fresh parenchyma cells</p>
<h3><b>Materials</b></h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>banana</li>
<li>petri dishes or watch glasses</li>
<li>dissection needles</li>
<li>iodine solution</li>
<li>microscopes, <a data-lesson="using-a-microscope" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="introducing-the-cell" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/introducing-the-cell/using-a-microscope">microscope</a> slides and cover slips</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3><b>Instructions</b></h3>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Use the dissecting needle to lift off a small piece of the soft banana tissue.</li>
<li>Put the sample onto a petri dish or watch glass and mash it slightly using the dissecting needle (and a pencil if you want).</li>
<li>Lift a small sample of the tissue onto a microscope slide on which you already have placed a drop of iodine solution. Put the cover slip on.</li>
<li>Observe the cells under low power and find a section where the cells are lying separate, not all over each other.</li>
<li>Enlarge this section and focus carefully to see if you can find nuclei in some of the cells (they will be bigger than the purple plastids and transparent).</li>
<li>Draw 2 or 3 cells and label.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<h3><b>Questions</b></h3>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Describe the shape of the cells and their <a data-lesson="cell-wall" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="introducing-the-cell" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/introducing-the-cell/cell-wall">wall</a> thickness.</li>
<li>What are the plastids called which appear purple and what is their function?</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>

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Parenchyma Tissue

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Parenchyma Tissue

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