Question

In general, the cells of cortex lack
A. Chlorophyll
B. Nucleus
C. Reserve food
D. Nucleolus

Answer 1

Hint: Cells of the cortex are non-photosynthetic. They lack the cell organelles which are also known as “Kitchen of the cell” and were discovered by a scientist named Schimper.

Complete answer
The cells of the cortex consist of thin-walled parenchymatous cells. The cells are circular or polygonal or cylindrical and have intercellular spaces. In the cortex of stems, resin canal is found and the cortex is schizogenous in origin. It is a part of the ground tissue system.
The cells of the cortex do not contain chloroplast and therefore chlorophyll is also absent in them.

Additional Information:
-The main function of the cortex is the storage of food and to provide mechanical support.
-Substances that are stored in the cortex include starch grain, oil, tannin, and several inorganic crystals.
-The other layers of the ground tissue system consist of hypodermis and endodermis layers.
-Hypodermis: The cells of hypodermis may be collenchymatous, chlorenchymatous, or sometimes sclerenchymatous. The main function of hypodermis is to provide strength and rigidity to the plants.
-Endodermis: The cells of the endodermis layer are compactly arranged. Barrel-shaped cells are found in this layer and they have a deposition of suberin in the radial and lateral walls, known as Casparian strips. The endodermis is also known as a starch sheath in the stems of young angiosperms. The functions performed by endodermis include storage of starch, protection, and maintenance of root pressure. It also functions as a watertight layer between vascular and nonvascular tissue.

So, the correct answer is,” In general, the cells of the cortex lack chlorophyll.”

Note:
The cells of the general cortex are usually parenchymatous, but in hydrophytic plants, the parenchymatous cells are modified into aerenchymatous cells. The cells in aerenchymatous tissue have air chambers that are lysigenous in origin. These chambers are filled with oxygen which helps to provide buoyancy to the hydrophytic plants.