Question

Parenchyma cells filling the space between dermal and vascular tissues form:
(a) Ground tissue
(b) Epidermal tissue
(c) Medulla
(d) Vascular tissue

Answer 1

Hint: Parenchyma forms the major component within various organs of plants. The tissue system in which parenchyma is present constitutes the main bulk of the plant body.

Complete answer:
Ground tissue does not come under the epidermal tissue system and vascular tissue system. This tissue system constitutes the main bulk of the plant body. Thus, also known as a fundamental tissue system. Various simple tissues like parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma are present in it. The ground tissue system is differentiated into various zones. In T.S. of all dicot stems, monocot roots, and dicot roots; the ground tissue exhibits clear zonation into an outer cortex and central pith. In between cortex and pith, various tissues are present.
Zones in ground tissue system: In dicot stems and all the roots of angiosperms, following zonation is usually seen outer to the inner site in a transverse and longitudinal view. - Cortex: It lies below the epidermis; it may be few to many thick. Further differentiated into three sub- zones i.e. Hypodermis, general cortex, endodermis.
- Pericycle: It is the outermost portion of the stele. It is a cylindrical or thin- walled parenchymatous tissue. Sometimes it can be thick- walled sclerenchymatous tissue. The function of Pericycle is to provide mechanical support to plants when thick- walled. When thin- walled, it may act as a storage organ for food materials.
- Pith: it is also called the medulla. Occupies the central part of the stem, dicot roots, and monocots roots. Pith is generally composed of parenchymatous cells in which intercellular spaces are present in between them.
So, the answer is, ‘Ground tissue.’

Additional Information:
- The endodermis is characterized by the presence of a special thickened band in their wall called Casparian strip. This appears on radial as well as tangential walls of endodermal cells.
Note:
- Ground tissue in monocot stems lacks zonation.
- Ground tissue is not differentiated into cortex and pith in leaves of dicot and monocot plants.
- Ground tissues consist of thin-walled chloroplasts containing cells and are called mesophyll.
- In the monocot stem, pith cannot be distinguished as vascular bundles and are present throughout the stem.