University of the Philippines Cebu

College of Sciences
Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences

Exercise 1A
Introduction to the Vascular Plant Body

Denulan, Eula Trixie V.

BOT 121 Laboratory

Submitted to:
Richie Eve Ragas

January 31, 2019

A. External Structure of the Plant Body
1. Label primary root, lateral root, stem, cotyledon, and leaf in Figure 1.
 2. What roles or functions would you expect to be associated with each of the plant
parts that you have examined?
Root - for anchorage; absorb water, minerals and nutrients from soil which
are needed by the whole plant system.
Stem - provides height for the plant; act as transport system of various
materials (water, nutrients, sugar and starch) needed by the plant body.
Cotyledon - the first part of a plant embryo that act as a leaf and is
photosynthetic; provides nutrients for the germination of the seed
Leaf - a photosynthetic organ of a plant where food is manufactured; contains
the most number of chloroplasts, an organelle filled with green-colored chlorophyll
used in photosynthesis
Flower - reproductive part of the plant where pollination and fertilization
occurs; usually has four parts (petals, stamen (anther and filament), pistil (stigma,
style and ovary), and sepals)

3. Why are the leaves and stems of the plant green?

Leaves and stems appear as color green because of an organelle called as
chloroplast. A chloroplast contains the green pigment chlorophyll, which is needed in
photosynthesis. It appears green because the pigment molecule (chlorophyll a)
absorbs blue and red light which leads to the green light being reflected to our eyes.
They also have other pigments called accessory pigments that absorbs other colors
of light.

4. Does this tell you anything about a likely function of these parts? Explain.
Light absorbed by the chlorophyll is very much needed in photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is a process by which Photosynthesis is the process by which plants,
some bacteria, and some protistans use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar,
which cellular respiration converts into ATP, the "fuel" used by all living things. The
conversion of unusable sunlight energy into usable chemical energy, is associated
with the actions of the green pigment chlorophyll. Most of the time, the photosynthetic
process uses water and releases the oxygen that we absolutely must have to stay
alive (Farabee 2007).

5. What about the roots in this regards?

Roots does not appear green because they grow underground which means
there is no sunlight. The color green is because of the chlorophyll pigment that uses
light to produce energy. Being underground means there is no light to be absorbed
rendering chlorophyll useless. However, there are other pigments present in the
roots.

B. Internal Structure of the Plant Body

6. Label cortex, epidermis, pith, and vascular cylinder in the stem section in Figure 1.
Now make a thin cross section through the primary root of the bean plant.
7. Identify and label the epidermis (with its numerous root hairs), the cortex, and the
vascular cylinder in the root section in Figure 1.
8. What pathway would sugar molecules manufactured in a leaf follow on their way to
a growing root tip?
 The sugar and other organic molecules are transported through the plant by
means of a special layer of tissue called phloem. Phloem is composed of living cells
that transport a water solution of sugars that we commonly call sap. This movement
is modeled by the pressure-flow theory, a part of which is that the sugar-containing
fluid is moved through sieve tubes by fluid pressure. By this means, nutrients can be
moved from the photosynthetic site (the source) to the place where the sugar is being
used (the sink) whether it is up or down the stem of the plant (Audesirk 1999).

9. What pathway would minerals entering the plant from the soil follow on their way to
a leaf?
Water molecules move from root to the leaves and shoots via three different
pathways. One pathway is an apoplastic pathway wherein water molecule stays
between cells in the cell wall region, and do not cross membranes nor enter cell. The
other two re called cellular pathways that require the water molecule to move across
a membrane. The first cellular pathway is where the water move from cell to cell
across membrane leaving one cell by traversing its membrane and will re-enter
another cell by crossing its membrane. The second cellular path is the symplastic
path which takes the water molecule from cell to cell using the intercellular
connections called the plasmodesmata which are membrane connections between
adjacent cells. once the water molecules are in the endodermal cells the water enters
the xylem cells, heading to the leaves (Transpiration - Water Movement through
Plants n.d.).

Laboratory Review Questions and Problems:

1. Distinguish between root system and shoot system.
The root system consists of roots. The system mainly anchors the plant to the soil
and transport water molecule and nutrients from the soil to the rest of the plant body. The
shoot system consists of stem, leaves, flower and fruits. The system provides stature, and
helps in the reproduction of plants and reproduction of energy for different plant activities.
2. How does the primary root differ from lateral roots with regard to origin?
The primary root originated from embryo of a plant and is the one that is considered
the ‘first’ root. Lateral roots emerge from the primary root and is usually the most parts inf a
root system.
3. Distinguish between cotyledons and foliage leaves. What do they have in common?
Cotyledons are the first 'leaves' of a plant embryo that is modified for water and food
storage for growth of seed. Foliage leaves are attached to the stem above the cotyledons
and is also used for plant growth and survival.
4. Distinguish between leaves and leaflets.
Leaves are the main body of photosynthesis and sugar-manufacturing. Leaflets are
the branching leaves of the original leaves.
5. Distinguish between nodes and internodes.
Nodes are parts of the plant where the leaves are attached to. Internodes is the
spaces between two successive nodes.
6. Distinguish between vegetative and reproductive parts of the plant.
Vegetative parts of the plant are the roots, leaves, and stem while the flower and fruit
are the reproductive part of the plant.
7. Identify the tissue system represented by each of the following tissues or regions of the
plant:
 Cortex - ground
Epidermis - dermal
Mesophyll - ground
Phloem - vascular
Pith - ground
Veins - vascular
Xylem - vascular

References:
Audesirk, Teresa and Audesirk, Gerald, Biology, Life on Earth, 5th Ed., Prentice-Hall, 1999.

California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. 2013. Plant Parts. [accessed 2019
Jan 30] from http://marinmg.ucanr.edu/files/187894.pdf

Farabee, M.J. 2007. What is Photosynthesis?. [cited 2019 Jan 30]

https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookPS.html

LifeEasy Biology. n.d. What is the function of the cotyledon?. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
http://www.biology.lifeeasy.org/5902/what-is-the-function-of-the-cotyledon

Plant & Soil Sciences eLibrary. n.d. Transpiration - Water Movement through Plants. [cited
2019 Jan 30] from http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?
idinformationmodule=1092853841&topicorder=5

Reference.com. n.d. Why Do Root Cells Not Contain Chloroplasts. [accessed 2019 Jan 30]
from https://www.reference.com/science/root-cells-contain-chloroplasts-48a6377cf4e0c548

UCSB ScienceLine. 2006. Why is the chlorophyll in plants green or even red, orange, or
brown?. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=1110

University of the Philippines Cebu

College of Sciences
Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences
 Exercise 1B
Introduction to Plant Cell

Denulan, Eula Trixie V.

BOT 121 Laboratory

Submitted to:
Richie Eve Ragas

January 31, 2019

I. The Living Cell
1. How would you describe the three-dimensional shape of the cell you have
examined? (Note: Unable to take a clear photo of the Elodea cell.)
The Elodea leaf is color green in appearance because of the chlorophyll
pigment. It also has some brown clumps surrounding it.
2. Where is the cytoplasm located? Figure 4. Where the protoplasts are ‘swimming’.
3. Where is the vacuole? Figure 4. The largest part of the cell. Usually covers up
almost the whole cell due to its big size.
4. Where are the chloroplasts and mitochondria? Figure 4. Usually in the surrounding
of the nucleus
5. What is the three-dimensional shape of a chloroplast?
Spherical in shape with stacks of thylakoid (grana) and is usually colored
green. It also has two membranes, the inner and outer membrane.
 6. In this cell or another one, you should be able to find a clear, amber-colored
nucleus. Where is it located? Figure 4. Usually at the center of the cell
7. Knowing this, what would you estimate the proportion, by volume, of cytoplasm to
vacuole to be in these cells?
Vacuoles typically compose about 30 percent of a cell's volume, but they can
fill as much as 90 percent of the intracellular space. Plant cells use vacuoles to adjust
their size and turgor pressure. Vacuoles usually account for changes in cell size
when the cytoplasmic volume stays constant.
8. What are these phenomena called and what causes them?
Turgor pressure is the pressure of the cell contents against the cell wall. Plant
cells have high concentrations of molecules dissolved in their cytoplasm, which
causes water to come into the cell under normal conditions and makes the cell's
central vacuole swell and press against the cell wall.

II. The Cell Wall

9. Label the cell lumen, cell wall, middle lamella, and plasmodesmata in Figure 5.

III. Other Cellular Components

10. By through -focusing (manual Figure 4-1), determine the location of the plastids,
and hence the pigments, within the cell. In the marigold plastids, the pigment is
stored in lipid globules. If any of these plastids have ruptured, you should see
numerous small, colored globules exhibiting Brownian movement in the cytosol of
vacuole.
11. What shape are the chromoplasts in the petal cells? Round/Spherical
12. What colors are they? yellow
13. Compare the distribution of the pigments here with those of the Rhoeo cells.
There were more chromoplasts found in the yellow flower than the Rhoeo
plant leaf.
14. Identify chromoplasts and/or pigment bodies, and note their shapes.
In the tomato cell, the chromoplasts found were of color red/orange.
Carotenoid
15. Identify chromoplasts and/or pigment bodies, and note their shapes.
In the carrot cell, the chromoplasts found where orange. Carotenoid
16. What type of pigments are responsible for the color of the epidermal cells of
Zebrina?
The leaves of the Zebrina plant contain at least two different colored
pigments, the usual green chlorophyll and a red pigment that makes the lower leaf
surfaces look reddish-purple.
17. Explain the difference in appearance of the starch grains as seen with and
without the polaroid.
We were unable to test it using a polaroid. Therefore, there was no result
obtained.

IV. Ultrastructure of the Cell

18. In Figure 9, identify the cell wall, chloroplasts (one with a starch grain),
endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, mitochondria, vacuole, and nucleus. Locate
also the protoplast, cytoplasm, cytosol, plasma membrane, ribosomes, tonoplasts
(vacuolar membranes), nuclear envelope, nucleoplasm, and chromatin.
 COMPONENT FUNCTION

a. vacuole storage space for water, wastes, & other cellular

material

b. mitochondria releases energy from digested foods

c. nucleus the control center of the cell

d. chloroplasts manufactures food in the plant cell through

photosynthesis

e. Cell wall surrounds the plant cell - gives it shape and

protection

f. Endoplasmic reticulum place where materials are processed and moved

around inside the cell

g. peroxisome carry out additional functions, including the recycling

of carbon from phosphoglycolate during
photorespiration

19. In Figure 10a, identify the cell wall, Golgi body (in sectional view, including
cisternae and secretory vesicles), endoplasmic reticulum, microtubules, which are
components of the cytoskeleton, and plasma membrane.
COMPONENT FUNCTION

a. Cell wall surrounds the plant cell - gives it shape and

protection

b. Plasma membrane a protective outer covering - regulates interaction

between the cell and its environment

c. endoplasmic reticulum place where materials are processed and moved

around inside the cell

d. microtubules transport and structural support.

e. Golgi body packages and transmits cellular material throughout

the cell

20. In Figure 10b, identify the Golgi body (in surface view) and the polysomes.
COMPONENT FUNCTION

a. Golgi body packages and transmits cellular material throughout

the cell

b. polysomes Plays a major role in protein synthesis

21. In manual Figure 11a, identify the cell wall and plasmodesmata.
COMPONENT FUNCTION
 a. Cell wall surrounds the plant cell - gives it shape and protection

b. plasmodesmata traverse the cell walls of plant cells and enables transport
and communication between them.

22. In manual Figure 11b, identify the cell wall, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma
membrane, plasmodesmata, and middle lamella.
COMPONENT FUNCTION

a. Plasma membrane a protective outer covering - regulates interaction

between the cell and its environment

b. Cell wall surrounds the plant cell - gives it shape and protection

c. plasmodesmata traverse the cell walls of plant cells and enables

transport and communication between them.

d. Endoplasmic reticulum place where materials are processed and moved

around inside the cell

e. Middle lamella helps plant cells join together with other cells. This is
critical for giving plants strength and stability.

23. In Figure 12a, identify the mitochondria, nuclear pores (in surface view, on the
nuclear envelope), and polysomes.
COMPONENT FUNCTION

a. polysomes Plays a major role in protein synthesis

b. Nuclear pores regulate the movement of molecules from the nucleus

to the cytoplasm, and vice versa.

c. mitochondria releases energy from digested foods

24. In Figure 12b, identify the mitochondria, nuclear pores (in surface view on the
nuclear envelope), and polysomes.

COMPONENT FUNCTION

a. nucleus the control center of the cell

b. Nuclear pores regulate the movement of molecules from the nucleus

to the cytoplasm, and vice versa.

c. endoplasmic reticulum place where materials are processed and moved

around inside the cell

25. In Figure 13, identify the cell wall and microtubules

COMPONENT FUNCTION
 a. Microtubules transport and structural support.

b. Cell wall surrounds the plant cell - gives it shape and protection

Laboratory Review Questions and Problems

1. How might you determine, with the aid of a light microscope, whether the color(s) of a
flower are due to the presence of anthocyanin or of carotenoid pigments?
Anthocyanin pigments are located in the vacuole while carotenoid pigments are
located in the chromoplasts.
2. Of what importance, if any, are intercellular spaces to the plant?
Intercellular spaces are very important to the plant because these spaces enable gas
exchange and transport of materials between cells.
3. What is the location within the cell (cytosol, plastid, or vacuole) of each of the following?
COMPONENT LOCATION
a. Starch grains - plastid
b. Pigment bodies - plastid/vacuole
c. Cell sap - vacuole
d. Nuclei - cytosol
e. Microtubules - cytosol
f. Crystals - vacuole
g. Mitochondria - cytosol
h. Plastids - cytosol

References:
Britannica.com. n.d. Peroxisome. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
https://www.britannica.com/science/peroxisome

Lightbourn, G. J. et.Al. 2008. Effects of Anthocyanin and Carotenoid Combinations on

Foliage and Immature Fruit Color of Capsicum annum. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/99/2/105/2188067

Nature Education. n.d. Plant Cells, Chloroplasts, and Cell Walls. [accessed 2019 Jan 30]
from https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/plant-cells-chloroplasts-and-cell-walls-
14053956

Quia.com. n.d. Cell Parts and Function. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ntZ-
zW3DmWsK8K4cEZfHj8LsoZiEQMyJyf3PviRDgo8/edit

Reference.com. n.d. What is a Middle Lamella Plant Cell?. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
https://www.reference.com/science/middle-lamella-plant-cell-41738f5e12a88ed

Reference.com. n.d. What is the Function of a Polysome?. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
https://www.reference.com/science/function-polysome-7262eb6e3dabf8a1
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https://employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/biol327/Lecture/cells.htm

Softschools.com. n.d. Function of Nuclear Pores. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from
http://www.softschools.com/science/biology/function_of_nuclear_pores/

Titickjian, J. 2014. Pigment Experiment. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from

http://www.doctortee.com/dsu/tiftickjian/bio100/pigment-experiment.html

TutorVista.com. n.d. Plant Cell. [accessed 2019 Jan 30] from

https://biology.tutorvista.com/animal-and-plant-cells/plant-cell.html
Figure 3. Mung Bean. (Left) Whole Specimen. (Right) Root Tip Cross-Section.

Figure 4. Elodea cell under microscope. X1000

Image source: https://img.haikudeck.com/mg/FfsDWxncfM_1444877522117.jpg