Just like animals and humans, plants also have complex cells. One of the characteristics of plant cells is that they are rectangular in shape and larger in size than animal cells. Each cell has a role that supports the survival of the plant.
Starting from regulating plant growth, flower formation, oxygen production, etc. Plants have complex and unusual cells, allowing them to take care of themselves independently.
But do you know what these cells contain and their functions? If not, this article has prepared the answer for you. For those who are curious, let’s take a look at the explanation together!
Plant cells are
Cells are the smallest part of a plant. This part contains a thin membrane containing a colloidal solution of chemical compounds. This cell has its own uniqueness, which is that it is able to multiply cells by dividing the cells themselves.
It is certain that every cell in a plant contains cell contents. This allows cells to carry out activities and meet their needs independently without the help of other cells.
The main components that make up these cells are organelles and cytoplasm. All the organelles in the cytoplasm will be protected by the cell membrane, so that cell activities can occur safely and are not affected by external factors.
Types of plant cells
Plants are made up of small cells that enable them to survive. These cells are not all the same. There are three types of cells that make up the components of plants. The roles of each cell are as follows:
1. Solid cells
These cells are strong and solid, so the plant is not easily injured. The sclerenchyma cell walls have good thickness. These cells will develop in the plant body. However, this bare cell will disappear as the cell matures.
Unfortunately, the lifespan of solid cells is not long. The reason is that these cells are unable to exchange important substances during metabolism. Therefore cell death often occurs.
The cells will leave empty cavities when they die. In doing their part, scleral cells have two types, namely fibrils and sclerites.
2. Parenchyma cells
Compared to the previous cells, parenchyma cells have thinner primary walls. These cells have the main function of supporting survival. Parenchyma cells form the basis of other plant structures.
Speaking of function, parenchyma cells are important for plant function. These cells are responsible for storing phloem and performing photosynthesis. As cells grow, their role in carrying out biochemical functions increases.
These cells become a place for spine growth. The thistle is useful as a means of self-protection so that it is not eaten by herbivores. However, in most cases, parenchyma cells are useful for storing cotyledons.
3. Collenchyma cells
What distinguishes collenchyma cells is that their primary walls are unequal in thickness. In carrying out their functions, hepatocytes work together with parenchyma cells. This cell has a transverse shape and an elongated size.
This shape is useful so that the collenchyma cells can function flexibly. Collenchyma cells can usually be found on the stems, petioles and veins of leaves. Collenchyma cells are rarely found in roots.
Its characteristics
These cells have physical properties that are very different from human and animal cells. To be more familiar, let’s learn about some of the characteristics of this single cell as follows:
- Cell shape does not change (fixed)
- Energy is stored in the form of starch molecules
- Contains plastids (chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and leukoplasts)
- It consists of cell walls
- The kernel size is small
- Large gap size
Picture of a plant cell
It would be more fun if you saw these cells in image form, wouldn’t it? You can see the anatomy of this cell and its important components in the image below:
Plant cell structure and functions
Plants that at first glance seem like simple living organisms, actually have a very complex cell structure. After knowing the different components that make up this cell, let us also learn about the functions of the cell parts below:
1. Cell wall
This is the outer part of the cell and therefore has solid and rigid properties. The cell wall acts as a protector of the interior of major plant cells, including the cell membrane and its contents.
Aside from the main cell protection, the cell wall also plays a role in regulating the pressure of water entering the cell so that it does not threaten cell survival.
Plants usually have two types of cell walls, primary and secondary. Primary walls tend to be more flexible with each other Coverslip Intermediate and secondary walls. Meanwhile, secondary walls are the opposite, being stronger, stiffer and thicker.
2. Cell membrane
It is a protector of the main cells. The cell membrane protects the main plant cells with a special layer of which they are composed Phospholipids And proteins. This membrane also separates the cytoplasm from the external environment.
Apart from being useful for protecting the main plant cells, this part also functions in transporting substances such as minerals, ions and nutrients into the cells. This membrane is the part of the plant responsible for maintaining the water balance and the density of solutes in the cell.
3. Cytoplasm
This is the fluid stored between the cell membrane and the nucleus. The cytoplasm contains many important components needed by major plant cells, such as vacuoles, mitochondria, chloroplasts and others.
Together, each of these organelles contributes to carrying out processes in the cell. Cytoplasm is often referred to as Medium gel or jelly. Certainly, various chemical reactions and metabolic processes in plants occur in the cytoplasm.
4. Cell nucleus
The cell nucleus or nucleus is the center of plant cellular activities. This section focuses on regulating the course of metabolic processes in plants and managing the genetic material of the cell.
In plants, the nucleus is well protected by a membrane. The nucleus itself consists of chromosomes, the nucleolus, and the nucleoplasm.
Given that the genetic management of a cell takes place within it, the nucleus is also where transcription and RNA synthesis occur. The DNA found in the nucleus is called… Chromatin.
5. Ribosomes
Ribosomes are one of the cellular organelles found in major plant cells. When plants carry out genetic instructions, ribosomes will work with the nucleus. Ribosomes are often referred to as “protein factories.”
This is because this organelle also functions in producing proteins needed for plant cellular activities. Ribosomes themselves are divided into two types: bound ribosomes and free ribosomes. The difference is that bound ribosomes tend to fuse with the endoplasmic reticulum.
6. Gaps
The function of vacuoles in plant cells is to store various important substances that the plant needs. Not surprisingly, vacuoles are the largest organelles found in major plant cells. The shape resembles a large bag containing a special liquid.
This liquid is a storage place for organic and inorganic compounds. Various substances such as protein, sugar, water, organic acids, minerals and other important substances are stored in this organelle.
The vacuole is protected by a thin membrane layer called tonoplast. The function of the vacuole cannot be replaced, because this organelle is also useful in maintaining balanced pH values, regulating pressure in cells and sequestering plant metabolic residues.
7. Mitochondria
The next major organelle found in plant cells is the mitochondria. This cell organelle has a distinctive oval shape, resembling a sausage. Mitochondria mainly produce energy.
Mitochondria do this through the process of cellular respiration which converts oxygen and sugar into carbon dioxide and energy.
Its function, which is closely related to energy production, eventually earned it the title The powerhouse of the cell Or energy production in cells. Without mitochondria, cells would not get the energy they need to live.
8. Many Golgi apparatus
Golgi bodies or by other names, dethisomes, are no less important organelles in plant cells. At first glance, this organelle resembles the endoplasmic reticulum, except that the Golgi body is not attached to the cell nucleus.
The shape of the Golgi body is in the form of thin sacs overlapping each other. Essentially, this organelle functions as a vehicle for cell secretion.
The Golgi apparatus helps convert inactive enzymes into active enzymes that cells can use again. Later the finished enzyme will be sent to the parts of the cell that need it.
Apart from this, the Golgi body is also a second storage place for proteins produced by the endoplasmic reticulum.
9. Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts or chloroplasts are the “kitchen” of cells. Just like humans, you need a kitchen to process certain substances so your body can consume them. Likewise with chloroplasts. This plant cell organelle is found only in plants.
It is characterized by green color and oval shape. But there are also flat chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are protected by two membranes, the outer membrane and the inner membrane.
Chlorobes produce food using energy from sunlight, which they then produce in the form of food and oxygen. In capturing sunlight, chloroplasts are aided by photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll and carotenoids.
10. Lysosomes
When foreign objects or substances enter cells, they can jeopardize the continuity of plant cellular activities. Here lysosomes play a role in preventing these problems. Lysosomes are able to digest and destroy substances that can damage cells.
In fact, lysosomes are the main part of the cell’s digestive system. Lysosomes help absorb macromolecules such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids which are then used to maintain cell membranes.
Surprisingly, lysosomes have not previously been found in plants. So there is still a lot of research doing studies on lysosomes.
11. Endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum, or ER for short, is a network that facilitates the transport of substances needed by cells. This organelle is generally located not far from the cell nucleus. At first glance, RE’s appearance resembles a maze with winding walls.
Renewable energy itself consists of two types, micro-renewable energy and raw renewable energy. Smooth ER function removes toxins, digests carbohydrates, and stores calcium. Meanwhile, the rough ER region is useful as a site for protein synthesis and protein modification.
In addition, the rough ER surface is associated with ribosomes, while the smooth ER surface is not associated with ribosomes.
The anatomy of plant cells is complex. Although they are small and cannot be seen with the naked eye, these cell parts are closely related to each other in supporting plant life, from providing energy and storing food to performing photosynthesis.