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Dictionary > Plant cell

Plant cell
Table of

Contents
1. Plant Cell Definition
2. Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell
Plant cell
3. Plant Cell Structure
n., plural: plant cells
4. Types of Plant Cells
[pʰl ̥eənt sɛl]
4.1. Meristematic cells
Definition: the structural
and functional unit of plants 4.2. Parenchyma cells
4.3. Collenchyma cells
4.4. Sclerenchyma cells
4.5. Reproductive cells
5. Biological Importance
6. Quiz
6.1. Send Your Results
(Optional)
7. See also
8. References
9. Recommended Sources

Plant Cell Definition

A plant cell refers to any cell of a plant. It is the structural
and functional unit of plants. Plant cells are presumed to
have evolved from the early green algae and probably first
occurred in the early Paleozoic era, more than 500 million
years ago. Plant cells were first observed by an English
natural philosopher, Robert Hooke. With the availability of a
microscope, he was able to see plant cells from a bottle cork
sample. He noticed microscopic pores that resembled a
honeycomb. He, then, coined the term cells to refer to these
tiny pores. Initially, he thought that they were empty cells.
With the availability of more advanced microscopes,
scientists were able to observe the living components of
plant cells. Typically, a simple plant cell has membrane-
bound cell structures (called organelles) that are suspended
in the cytoplasm.

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Ida Slams the Northeast with Tornadoes, Torrenti…

Plant cell (biology definition): the structural and

functional unit of a plant. Compare:
animal cell

Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell

A plant cell, similar to an animal cell, is eukaryotic.
Eukaryotic cells are characterized by the presence of
organelles, particularly the nucleus, as opposed to
prokaryotic cells that lack them. Although plant cell and
animal cell are similar in this regard they have recognizable
structural differences. A plant cell has a rigid cell wall that is
absent in an animal cell. There is also a central vacuole that
occupies much space in a plant cell. In an animal cell, the
vacuoles are numerous but small. Plant cells have many
chloroplasts whereas animal cells lack them. Chloroplasts
are key organelles in photosynthesis. Thus, plants are
capable of making their own food directly from inorganic
sources whereas animals rely on available food from organic
sources. They also differ in how a cell divides. A plant cell
divides by forming a cell plate between two daughter cells
during the latter phase of cell division. In contrast, an animal
cell forms a cleavage furrow.

Read: Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells – Biology Online Tutorial

Plant Cell Structure

A eukaryotic plant cell possesses various cell

structures: nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, a
central vacuole, Golgi apparatus, and
endoplasmic reticulum. The cell is surrounded by
a cell membrane and further enveloped by a plant
cell wall.

A typical plant cell structure includes organelles,

cytoplasmic structures, cytosol, cell membrane (also called
plasma membrane), and cell wall. Plant cell organelles
include plastids, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic
reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. The nucleus is the organelle
that modulates the metabolic activities of the cell. It
contains most of the cell’s genetic material. Other genetic
materials are located in the semi-autonomous organelles,
the mitochondria, and the chloroplasts. The mitochondria
are the organelles that provide the cells chemical energy, e.
g. ATP, by cellular respiration. The chloroplasts are
chlorophyll-containing organelles that play an important
role in the photosynthetic process. They are the light energy
(photon)-harvesting organelles. They convert inorganic salts,
water, and carbon dioxide into complex organic material (e.g.
glucose molecules) as driven by the light energy from a light
source (e.g. sunlight). Apart from chloroplasts, there are also
other types of plastids found in a plant cell. They are the
chromoplasts and the leucoplasts. Chromoplasts contain
accessory pigments whereas leucoplasts contain stored
food. The endoplasmic reticulum is the organelle involved in
protein synthesis. Together with the ribosomes, they create
proteins that will be transported intracellularly or
extracellularly. Proteins that are for transport are passed on
to the Golgi apparatus where they are packaged and sorted.
Lysosomes, peroxisomes, and cytoskeletons (microtubules,
actin filaments, and intermediate filaments) are also present
in plant cells. A central vacuole is present and often the
largest cytoplasmic structure in a plant cell. It is essential to
plant due to its role in osmoregulation. All these cytoplasmic
structures are suspended in the fluid component of the
cytoplasm, the cytosol. The cell membrane contains the
organelles, other cytoplasmic structures, and the cytosol. It
is a semi-permeable, double-membraned covering that is
made up of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. On the cell’s
exterior is a cell wall that is responsible for the cell’s
turgidity, rigidity, strength, and resiliency against
mechanical stress. A plant cell wall may be made up of two
layers of cell walls, a primary and a secondary wall. A
primary cell wall consists of cellulose, pectin, and
hemicellulose. Over time, it could deposit another layer
called the secondary cell wall. It is characteristically thick
due to lignin deposition. For the generalized plant cell model,
refer to the illustration of a plant cell.

Types of Plant Cells

Plants are comprised of several cells that may be organized
to plant tissues and organs that perform a particular
function. Thus, plant cells may be classified into types based
on the tissues they are associated with. The common plant
cell types are meristematic cells, parenchyma cells,
collenchyma cells, sclerenchyma cells, and reproductive
cells. Plant cells in a tissue communicate by plasmodesmata.
They are microscopic channels that link plant cells by thin
strands. They facilitate transport between individual plant
cells.

Meristematic cells
Meristematic cells are the cells of the meristem. These cells
are not yet differentiated and divide actively by mitosis.
They are the stem cells of plants, capable of giving rise to any
plant cell type.

Parenchyma cells
Parenchyma cells are cells of the parenchyma tissues. They
have distinctively thin walls (due to the absence of a
secondary wall deposition) and remain alive at maturity.
They are involved chiefly in photosynthesis, food storage,
secretion, and phloem loading. Parenchyma cells are the
most common plant cell type. They occur in vascular
bundles, leaves, and epidermis. Parenchyma cells that are
involved in photosynthesis are called chlorenchyma cells.
Guard cells are another specialized type of parenchyma
cells. They regulate the opening and closure of stomata
(plant pores for gas exchange).

Collenchyma cells
Collenchyma cells are cells of the collenchyma tissues.
Similar to parenchyma cells, they also lack a secondary cell
wall. They are also often alive at maturity. They differ,
however, from parenchyma cells in having thicker primary
cell walls albeit the wall thickenings are irregular.
Collenchyma cells are typically found in the growing shoots
and leaves where they provide structural support.

Sclerenchyma cells
Sclerenchyma cells are cells of the sclerenchyma tissues.
They have thick walls due to secondary walls and lignin
deposition. Unlike the parenchyma and collenchyma cells,
the sclerenchyma cells are dead at maturity. They lose their
protoplast. Examples of sclerenchyma cells are
sclerenchyma fibers, sclereids, and bast fibers.

Different types of plant tissues. Credit: Kelvinsong –

diagram, CC BY 3.0.

Reproductive cells
Unlike animals, plants have an alternation of generations, i.e.
the alternating phases of sporophyte and gametophyte. A
sporophyte is a plant form in diploid condition. It eventually
bears sporangia that produce spores. A spore is a haploid
reproductive cell involved in asexual reproduction and gives
rise to a gametophyte.

Each haploid spore divides mitotically to become the

gametophyte. Thus, a gametophyte is a plant form in a
haploid condition. It bears gametangia that produce sex cells
(gametes). The sex cells are reproductive cells involved in
sexual reproduction. The female sex cell is an egg cell
whereas the male sex cell is a sperm cell. These cells are
haploid.

Thus, when they unite they form a diploid zygote. The

zygote, then, develops into a new sporophyte.

Schematic diagram of the alternation of generation. Source:

CNX OpenStax, CC BY-SA 4.0

Biological Importance
Plant cells are important as part of the biotic component of
an ecosystem. They are the primary producers on which
non-autotrophic organisms rely upon as a source of
nutrients and organic matter. Plant cells are also important
commercially. Fibers (e.g. phloem fibers) are collected for
their commercial value. They are marketed as jute, hemp,
flax, ramie, rattan, and kenaf. They also produce compounds
that have medicinal and industrial value.

Try to answer the quiz below to check what you have

learned so far about plant cells.

Quiz
Choose the best answer.

1. What is a plant cell?

The structural unit of a plant body

The structural unit of an animal body
The structural unit of a plant protein

2. Which of these features is present in a plant cell

but not in an animal cell?

Presence of a cell membrane

Presence of a cell wall
Presence of a vacuole

3. Organelles for photosynthesis

Chloroplasts
Endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondria

4. The stem cells of plants

Collenchyma cells
Meristematic cells
Reproductive cells

5. Produces plant sex cells

Sporophyte
Gametophyte
Both sporophyte and gametophyte

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See also
Plant
Cell

References
1. Plant Cell Wall Basics. (2019). Retrieved from Uga.edu
website:
https://www.ccrc.uga.edu/~mao/intro/ouline.htm
2. Cell Structure. (2019). Retrieved from Nku.edu
website:
https://www.nku.edu/~whitsonma/Bio150LSite/Lab 5
Cells/Bio150LRCellStructure.htm
3. Lab Manual Exercise # 1a. (2012). Retrieved from
Palomar.edu website:
https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/lmexer1a.htm
4. Plant and Animal Cells Grade 4 Unit 3 Lesson 1. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
https://coast.noaa.gov/data/SEAMedia/Presentations/PDFs/Grade
4 Unit 3 Lesson 1 Plant & Animal Cells.pdf
5. Cell Structure and Function. (2019). Retrieved from
Msu.edu website:
https://msu.edu/~potters6/te801/Biology/biounits/cellstructure&function.htm

Recommended Sources
Plant Direct – an open access plant science journal
that covers various topics in plant genetics, plant cell
biology, plant physiology, plant molecular biology,
plant evolution, and many more.

© Biology Online. Content provided and moderated by

Biology Online Editors

Fun activity: Plant Cell Coloring worksheet

Last updated on June 8th, 2021

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