Lecture 2: Plant Biology Basics

Question 1

Totipotency

Answer 1

-Every cell in the plant contains a full set of genes of the entire plant, therefore, there is genetic potential to form an entire organism
-Makes asexual reproduction possible

Question 2

Adventitious roots

Answer 2

roots that grow out from non-root tissue

Question 3

Meristem

Answer 3

specialized regions of plant tissue that undergo rapid cell division to produce undifferentiated cells from which new tissues or organs arise

Question 4

Apical meristems

Answer 4

responsible for primary growth

Question 5

Lateral meristems

Answer 5

increase the girth of stems and roots

Question 6

Intercalary meristems

Answer 6

quick expansion from internodes and base of leaf of grasses

Question 7

What are the three basic plant tissues?

Answer 7

1. Ground
2. Epidermis
3. Vascular tissues

Question 8

Ground tissue

Answer 8

constitutes most of the primary body of the plant

Question 9

What are the three main functions of ground tissue?

Answer 9

1. storage
2. basic metabolism
3. structural support

Question 10

Epidermis

Answer 10

protective outermost layer of cells ex: root hairs and waxy cuticle on leaf

Question 11

Vascular tissue

Answer 11

specialized cells for the transport of water, minerals, sugars, etc

Question 12

What are the three cell types?

Answer 12

1. Parenchyma
2. Collenchyma
3. Sclerenchyma

Question 13

Parenchyma

Answer 13

1. have the ability to differentiate and dedifferentiate to and from other cell types
2. alive at maturity

Question 14

Collenchyma

Answer 14

1. Cells with unevenly thickened primary cell walls that strengthen and give structural support to growing organs
2. alive at maturity
3. ex: celery

Question 15

Sclerenchyma

Answer 15

1. rigid cells with thick, non stretching secondary cell walls
2. dead at maturity

Question 16

Cuticle

Answer 16

waxy layer of above ground epidermis

Question 17

Trichomes

Answer 17

epidermal “hair”

Question 18

Pith

Answer 18

cells in the center of a stem

Question 19

Radicle

Answer 19

first root to emerge from seed

Question 20

Taproot

Answer 20

-prominent large single root; produces smaller secondary, tertiary roots, etc.
-like a carrot

Question 21

Lateral root

Answer 21

branches from primary root

Question 22

Root apex

Answer 22

meristematic area under root cap

Question 23

Root cap

Answer 23

thimble-like covering that protects meristem and secretes slime to lubricate soil for growth

Question 24

Endodermis

Answer 24

innermost layer of cortex that has walls to regulate transport of materials into the vascular bundles

Question 25

Pericycle

Answer 25

meristematic cells inside the endodermis, outermost layer of the stele

Question 26

What is the root cross section called?

Answer 26

Stele

Question 27

Chlorenchyma

Answer 27

chloroplast containing parenchyma cells

Question 28

Pallisade

Answer 28

densely packed cells, most photosynthesis occurs here

Question 29

Spongy mesophyll

Answer 29

irregularly shaped cells with much air space to allow gas exchange

Question 30

Veins

Answer 30

vascular bundles of leaves

Question 31

stomata

Answer 31

guard cells, gas exchange and regulation

Question 32

Monocot vascular bundles

Answer 32

dispersed throughout the ground tissue

Question 33

Dicot bundles

Answer 33

in ring formation near outer edge of stem

Question 34

Xylem

Answer 34

-upward movement of water and dissolved nutrients/minerals
-doesn’t live at maturity

Question 35

tracheids

Answer 35

elongated cells with tapered overlapping ends, transports water

Question 36

vessels

Answer 36

more advanced, and more short and wide than tracheids, set end to end, greater water transport capacity

Question 37

phloem

Answer 37

-solutes(sugars) moves in all directions
-living at maturity