Question

Which of the following is not a function of aerenchyma?
(a)It makes different part of plants flexible
(b)Helps in exchange of gases
(c)It makes different part of plants light
(d)All of the above

Answer 1

Hint This tissue is composed of a network of interconnected gas conducting intercellular spaces. Aerenchyma is found in aquatic and wetland plants which usually grow in hypoxic soils.

Complete answer:
Parenchyma is a sub-category under epidermal tissues in plants and can be defined as the simple permanent tissue, which is usually thin-walled and functions as a “ground tissue”. It forms packaging material of all the non-woody structures like leaves, roots, and stems. Aerenchyma is modified parenchyma and is spongy in texture that forms spaces or air channels in various parts of plants such as the leaves, stems, and roots of some plants, which allows easy gaseous exchange between the shoot and the root.
The air-filled channels or cavities provide a low-resistance internal pathway for gaseous exchange of oxygen and ethylene between the plant above the water and the submerged tissues.

Additional information:
A parenchymatous tissue mainly modifies into three major types, namely chlorenchyma, aerenchyma, and prosenchyma.
-Chlorenchyma: It is defined as the parenchymatous cell that possesses chloroplast. It assimilates the chlorophyll pigment therefore it is referred to as “Assimilatory parenchyma”.
-Aerenchyma: It has numerous large air-filled intercellular spaces and commonly referred to as “Air storing parenchyma”. Aerenchyma cells are most widely present in hydrophytes. It participates in gaseous exchange and maintains the buoyancy of hydrophytes.
-Prosenchyma: It is defined as the parenchymatous tissue that possesses elongated cells with a thickened wall. It appears spindle in shape with tapering ends. It mainly promotes rigidity to a plant.
-Storage parenchyma: It is mainly composed of large-sized vacuolated cells that store water, minerals, sugar, protein granules, oil droplets, etc.

So, the correct answer is 'It makes different part of plants flexible'

Notes: Parenchyma cells may also contain tannins or some resinous materials. Plasmodesmata joins the cells of parenchyma tissue. Food sources like carbohydrates, fats, oil droplets, protein granules, etc are generally stored in the sap of parenchyma cells.