Difference between Parenchyma and Collenchyma Cells
Parenchyma cells play an essential function in the process of photosynthesis, storage, and tissue repair. Also, they help in the processing of many substances and storage of water in them. However, collenchyma cells are living tissues consisting of thick cellular walls. These elongated-shaped structures have only one type of cell present under the epidermal layer of a plant stem or leaf veins.
Although both are present in plant cells, there is a visible difference between parenchyma and collenchyma cells. Let’s take a look.
Parenchyma and Collenchyma Cells and their Differences
Define Parenchyma
Parenchyma comprises a set of non-specialized tissue, having a primary thin cell wall of cellulose. These parenchymatous cells are present in the cortex and medulla of the plant stems along with roots, leaves, seeds fruit pulp, etc. They form approximately 80 percent of a plant’s living cells, and some of these are available in the xylem and phloem.
If you want to know more regarding what is collenchyma tissue, learn the below facts carefully!
What is Collenchyma?
Collenchyma comprises a single cell along with an elongated form. These cells have a compact arrangement and are mostly available in leaves and stems of young plants. However, they are not available in the roots apart from the aerial ones, and are absent mainly in monocot trees.
The primary collenchyma function is providing support for the growth of stems and other parts of dicot plants. Also, it gives the tissue an excellent resistance against external stresses and mechanical forces.
Types of Parenchyma and Collenchyma Cells
Parenchymatous cells comprise of four types based on function, such as:
Photosynthesis Parenchyma: Also known as chlorenchyma, they are responsible for food preparation in plants. These cells are commonly present below the epidermis along with leaves and the cortex of trees.
Aeriferous: Also known as aerenchyma, they have many intercellular spaces present in them. Plants with these cells are accountable for the release of greenhouse gasses.
Storage Parenchyma: These cells are responsible for the storage of numerous substances and synthesis in trees. The starch, lipids and protein solution are present in the vacuoles. In specific parenchymatous cells, there is a storage of a single substance, whereas many of them are also present in a single cell.
Aquiferous: These types of cells play the primary role of water storage in a large vacuole present within a cellular wall. They are present in xerophyte trees.
Collenchymatous cells consist of the following types based on the thickness of cellular walls. These include
Angular: The cellular wall’s thickness has an angular location to the cells with no intercellular space.
Lamellar Collenchyma: The thickness is present within the inner and outer tangent walls.
Lacunar: Intercellular gaps are present in it, and the cell wall thickness has a close association with these spaces.
Annular Collenchyma: The thickness shows a uniform distribution in appearance surrounding the cells.
Rack your Brains
Here are some questions on the difference between parenchyma and collenchyma cells. Go through them and try solving these to excel in your studies!
1. The Absence of Lignin in a Simple Mechanical Tissue is Known as _________
Sclerenchyma.
Collenchyma.
Chlorenchyma.
Aerenchyma.
None of these.
2. What is a Waxy Substance Having a Relation with the Cork Cell Wall Known?
Suberin.
Chloroplasts.
Cellulose.
Protein.
Preparation Tips to Score Well
From the above discussion, you can understand the difference between parenchyma and collenchyma cells.
If you are preparing for NEET examinations, you should take proper attention to your body and mind. So, it is mandatory to take utmost care of your health to crack the exam. You should engage in self-development practices for staying fit, such as yoga and meditation.
By staying mentally and physically healthy, you can give your best in the NEET exams. Also, if you have the zeal to learn more about the collenchyma cells or likewise topics, practise last year’s papers to score well.
Brief Overview on Parenchyma and Collenchyma Cells
Parenchyma is a type of tissue that forms or bears leaves, fruit pulp, and other soft parts of the plant and consists of cells that carry out an essential function. In Botany (Plant Biology), parenchyma is the simple permanent ground tissue that forms the bulk of plant tissues.
Collenchyma is a supporting tissue consisting of elongated, non lignified living cells whose primary walls are unevenly thickened. It is present in the regions of primary growth in stems and leaves of a plant.
Biology is the natural science that involves the study and detailed understanding of any living organisms and about life itself. Without Biology, it would be really difficult to learn the anatomy of humans, animals, and other creatures and how they survive on this planet.
Preparing for NEET Biology is made simple by Vedantu because it provides the entire syllabus with a solutions guide and many past years and other sample question papers for reference. Try solving them at regular intervals because this will help in revisiting and revising the concepts and will help you learn about the marking schemes of the paper. They can also help you in managing time effectively and answering all the necessary questions within a given period of time. Try observing the previous year's question paper continuously and learn what questions are repeating every consecutive year so that you might give extra attention to that particular question. Preparing for NEET Biology is not that easy but with proper planning and excessive preparation, students can score well.
FAQs on Parenchyma and Collenchyma Cells
1. Why do we need to study this chapter?
This chapter in Biology will provide an in-depth understanding of the natural world to the students. It also helps them learn to conduct research on any organism, problem-solving techniques, look at things in an organized way, and think critically about whatever situation they may be put into. You'll find that graduating with a Biology degree opens the door to many exciting job opportunities with a very good salary. Biology plays a vital role in every human’s life.
2. What are the main branches of Biology involved in this chapter?
There are 3 major branches involved in Biology, they are Medical Science, Botany, and Zoology. Medical science involves studying several plants that have some medicinal value found on earth that are used in manufacturing medicines, Botany includes the entire study of plants its parts, and living organisms within any part of the plant that will help them produce food bear fruits, or reproduce and Zoology involves the detailed study of animals, their eating habit, and their living style. Here in this chapter, we deal with Botany.
3. Are Parenchyma and Collenchyma cells topics in Biology hard to learn?
Opting for a Biology major helps you get into the medical line or research line. Biology as a subject is hard to study and prepare for exams for the students because of the vast amount of varied information and concepts required to be understood and it also involves a lot of unfamiliar concepts some of which are difficult and requires mastering an unfamiliar vocabulary which is true of any science student. This topic sounds interesting and fun when it is understood well.
4. How are Collenchyma and parenchyma cells similar but yet different?
Permanent tissues in Botany are further divided into simple permanent tissue and complex permanent tissue. Simple permanent tissues that are present in any living organism are further classified into the parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma cells. Both parenchyma and collenchyma are simple permanent tissues that are present in the plants. Parenchyma is present in plants from leaves, fruits and other bulky areas whereas collenchyma is present in the stems.
5. What are the major functions of parenchyma and collenchyma cells?
In Botany, the study of parenchyma cells explains that they are used for photosynthesis, storage, and secretion, while collenchyma cells explain the process of how the plant provides support and transportation of nutrients to other parts of the plant and sclerenchyma cells explain the support, protection, and transportation of water by absorbing all the necessary nutrients from the soil and distributing them carefully all over the body. Thus the study of these cells is necessary in order to observe how the plant actually survives.
6. What are the Types of Parenchyma Cells?
They consist of four types, such as photosynthetic, storage, aquiferous and auriferous parenchyma. Photosynthetic parenchyma contains multiple chloroplasts, whereas storage cells help retain many substances after synthesis.
7. Where is a Collenchyma Present in Plants?
Collenchyma acts as a supportive tissue in plants, and they consist of thick walls that are capable of withstanding massive mechanical forces. The cellular walls have compounds such as pectin and hemicellulose.
8. Are Chloroplasts Present in Cells of Collenchyma?
Collenchyma does not have chloroplasts present in it. However, it has transparent tissue which allows rays of light to reach deep inside the photosynthetic tissues.
