2.4.6 Plant Structures Flashcards
What are the two fundamental differences between plant and animal cells?
- the plant cell has a rigid cell wall
- the plant cell contains chloroplast
What are the three main principles that plants use to build tall structures?
- they produce strong cell walls out of cellulose
- they build columns from specialised cells
- they stiffen these special cells with lignin
How are the cell walls made strong?
The cell walls are made by strong cellulose
What is cellulose?n
Cellulose is a ß-glucose chain
What bond is formed between the glucose molecules in cellulose?
A 1,4 glycosidic bond is formed between the monomers
What is the structure of cellulose?
Cellulose is a long, unbranched molecule due to the 1,4 bond
How are microfibrils formed?
Hydrogen bonds form between the -OH groups of cellulose, forming bundles called microfibrils
What is the glue that holds microfibrils together?
The glue that holds microfibrils together is composed of short, branched polysaccharides known as hemicelluloses and pectins. They bind to the surface of the cellulose and to each other.
