DERMAL TISSUE SYSTEM

EPIDERMIS
• Dr. M. Rehan Siddiqi
• Professor Emeritus
 Epidermis
• Epidermis comprises the mature, typically
uniseriate surface layer of entire plant
body.
• It is derived from the protoderm and has
variety of cell types like ordinary epidermal
cells, guard cells, Subsidiary cells,
trichomes and various idioblasts.
• Multiple epidermis in Malvaceae, etc.
• During secondary growth of stem and root
it is often sloughed off and is replaced by
periderm.
• Epidermal cells are variable in shape as
well as wall characteristics.
• Cuticle, is made up of a faty substance
and is laid down on epidermis
• In addition to cutin cells have lignin, silica
or other material.
Structure of stomata

Epidermal cell

Guard cell

Nucleus
Stoma

Vacuole

Thickened wall

Chloroplast
 STOMATA
• They are minute specialized openings in the
epidermis
• Location:
– Epistomatic---upper surface
– Hypostomatic---Lower surface
– Amphistomatic---Both surfaces
Each bordered by two specialized cell, reniform or
dumble shaped, called guard cells
 STOMATA CONT.
• Guard cells have chloroplast and are
surrounded by othe epidermal cells.
• Cells which differ morphologically from
typical epidermal cells are called subsidiary
cells.
• Stomatal complexes or stomatal apparatus
consist of stoma and associated epidermal
cells that may be ontogenetically and/ or
physiologically related to the guard cells.
 Mature Configuration of
Stomatal Complexes---Types
• Anomocytic:
– Epidermal cell surrounding the guard cells are
not distinguishable from other epidermal cells.
Subsidiary cells are lacking.
Anisocytic:
Stoma is surrounded by three subsidiary cells
with on distinctly smaller than the other two.
 STOMATAL TYPES CONT.
• Paracytic:
– Stoma is accompanied on either side by one
or more cells parallel to the long axis of the
guard cells.
Actinocytic:
Stoma is surrounded by a circle of radiating
cells whose long axis are perpendicular to
the outline of guard cells.
 STOMATA TYPES CONT.
• Cyclocytic:
– Stoma is surrounded by one or two narrow
rings of subsidiary cells.
Tetracytic:
Stoma is enclosed by four subsidiary cells,
two lateral and two polar. Found in many
monocots.
 TRICHOMES
• Highly variable appendages of the
epidermis and include hairs, scales,
papillae and absorbing hairs of roots
• Occurs in all parts of the plant body and
may persist or not.
• Some remain alive other die.
• Remarkably uniform in a taxon and may
be used in Taxonomy
 Trichome Types
• Look at the types of trichome in lab and try
to identify the following types:
– Unicellular
– Multicellular
– Glandular
– Hooked
– Dendrite
– Stellate
 Trichomes Cont.
• Function in insulating mesophyll from
excessive heat.
• Absorption of water and minerals in
epiphytes
• Removal of salts
• Protection from pests
 Functions of Epidermis
• Water regulation---Absorption of water and
its regulation
• Protection against sunlight
• Protection against other organisms.
• Protection against non-biological agents
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 Leaf cross section of Zea mays (corn),
monocotyledon, C4 plant
Upper epidermis
Bulliform cells
Xylem

Bundle sheath cells

with chloroplasts

Parenchyma with Lower epidermis

chloroplasts Phloem
Figure 37-16
Oleander

Adaptation
of a
xerophyte
Cross section of oleander leaf
Waxy cuticle on
upper surface
Epidermis of leaf is
especially thick
Palisade Vascular bundles
mesophyll
Air space
Stomata
Spongy
mesophyll
Epidermis

Epidermis Epidermal hairs

Stomata are located in “crypts”
instead of on flat leaf surface
 Figure 36-11

Simple leaves have a Compound leaves have Doubly compound leaves are Species from very cold or
petiole and a single blade. blades divided into leaflets. large yet rarely damaged by wind hot climates have needle-like
or rain. leaves.

Blade

Petiole

Figure 36-12
Opposite leaves Whorled leaves Alternate leaves Rosette
 leaf vein (one vascular
cuticle of upper epidermis
bundle inside the leaf)
xylem phloem
UPPER
Water and EPIDERMIS
dissolved
mineral ionsDiagram of a dicot leaf PALISADE
move from MESOPHYLL
roots into
stems, then
into leaf vein
(blue arrow) SPONGY
MESOPHYLL
LOWER
EPIDERMIS

cuticle-coated
Products of cell of lower
Photosynthesis epidermis
(pink arrow)
enter vein and
are transported
to stems, roots) one stoma
Oxygen and water Carbon dioxide from (opening
vapor escape the surrounding across the
from the leaf air enters the leaf epidermis)
through stomata through stomata
Tomato leaf, dicotyledon, C3 plant

Upper epidermis

Palisade parenchyma: chloroplasts

visible around cell periphery

Longitudinal section through a vascular

bundle

Xylem vessel: annular thickening

around cell wall

Phloem

Bundle Sheath

Spongy parenchyma

Lower epidermis
 Leaf cross section of Zea mays (corn),
monocotyledon, C4 plant
Upper epidermis
Bulliform cells
Xylem

Bundle sheath cells

with chloroplasts

Parenchyma with Lower epidermis

chloroplasts Phloem
 Leaf of a dictyledon

Coleus leaf cleared of cell contents and with xylem stained Typically veins are
distributed such that
mesophyll cells are close
to a vein.

The network of veins

also provides a
supportive framework
for the leaf.
 Leaf of a monocotyledon plant

The major venation follows the long axis of the leaf and there are numerous joining cross
veins so that, as with the dicotyledon, mesophyll cells are always close to a vein.
 Leaf cross section of a conifer, Taxus (yew)
The needle is broad, but has only one
vascular bundle

The mesophyll is differentiated into palisade and spongy layers

Figure 10-21
Leaf surfaces contain stomata.

Leaf surface

Guard cells Pore Stoma

Carbon dioxide diffuses into leaves through stomata.

Interior of leaf

O2
H2O

Leaf surface

Photosynthetic Extracellular CO2 Stoma

cells space
Structure of stomata

Epidermal cell

Guard cell

Nucleus
Stoma

Vacuole

Thickened wall

Chloroplast
 Physiological control of stomatal opening and closing

Guard cells actively take up K causing water to enter by

osmosis. The guard cell’s walls are unevenly thickened
causing the cells to bow as they becomes turgid

Variation between species in stomatal control:

isohydric, maintains constant leaf water potential, maize, poplar;
anisohydric, leaf water potential decreases during day, sunflower, barley.
Figure 37-16
Oleander

Adaptation
of a
xerophyte
Cross section of oleander leaf
Waxy cuticle on
upper surface
Epidermis of leaf is
especially thick
Palisade Vascular bundles
mesophyll
Air space
Stomata
Spongy
mesophyll
Epidermis

Epidermis Epidermal hairs

Stomata are located in “crypts”
instead of on flat leaf surface