Question

What is plasmodesmata? Explain?

Answer 1

Hint: Cells are the basic structural unit of all known living organisms. Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic in nature and they both share certain common components such as presence of nucleus, mitochondria, a cell membrane and cytoplasm.
In terms of the presence of some internal organelles such as a large vacuole, chloroplast and a cell wall, plant cells differ from animal cells in many ways. These two types of cells also differ in the way to translocate the molecules from cell to cell and to communicate between them.

Complete answer:
Plasmodesmata are responsible for the function of molecular translocation and cellular communication.
The exchange of materials between the plant cells is not possible due to the presence of cell walls. Therefore, Plasmodesmata contains channels or pores which act as a bridge between neighboring plant cells.

The event of Plasmodesmata occurs in all the major groups of plants from algae to higher plants. Plasmodesmata are thin-lined structures that provide pathways for transporting the information through plant cells in the form of molecules from one cell to another. It is formed by the fusion of cell walls between plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, the cytoplasmic connection between adjacent plant cells due to the fusion of their cell walls at a particular point is termed as Plasmodesmata.
 Between two neighboring cells in plants, these microscopic channels are used for translocating the material from cell to cell and communication between them. Plasmodesmata which are formed at the time of cell division for plant growth and development is known as Primary Plasmodesmata. Secondary Plasmodesmata are formed between mature cells and they are more complex as they share different functional properties.

Note: The presence of plasmodesmata within the symplasm was first recognized by Eduard Tangl in 1897. But the term plasmodesmata was coined by Eduard Strasburger in 1901 and he also explained about its structure and functions.