Question

What is the difference between sclerenchyma and parenchyma tissues?

A) Parenchyma- Cells are thin walled and unspecialised, Sclerenchyma- Cells are thick walled and lignified

B) Parenchyma- Cells are thick walled and lignified, Sclerenchyma- Cells are thin walled and unspecialised

C) Parenchyma- Cells are thick walled and unspecialised, Sclerenchyma- Cells are thick walled and lignified

D) Parenchyma- Cells are thin walled and specialised, Sclerenchyma- Cells are thick walled and lignified

Answer 1

Parenchyma cells have thin primary walls and usually remain alive after they have matured. Sclerenchyma cells have thick secondary lignified walls and often die when they are mature. Sclerenchyma provides the main structural support for the plant.

Complete answer:

1. Parenchyma is the simple permanent ground tissues that form the bulk of the plant tissues, such as the soft part of leaves, fruit pulp, and other plant organs.

2. Sclerenchyma is a type of permanent tissue. They are dead, long, thin narrow cells with thickened walls without any internal space. This tissue makes the plant hard and stiff. They provide mechanical support to plants.

Parenchyma	Sclerenchyma
The cells are thin walled and not specialized.	The cells are thick walled and lined.
They are living cells.	The tissues are made of dead cells.
Cells are usually loosely packed with large intercellular spaces.	There are no intercellular spaces between the cells.
Stores nutrients and water in stems and roots	Provides strength to the parts of the plant.
Some cells contain chlorophyll called chlorenchyma and perform photosynthesis. Other cells have large air cavities, called aerenchyma, which provide buoyancy to hydrophytic plants.	The cells are long and narrow, making the plant hard and stiff. The tissue is present in the stem around the vascular bundles, in the veins of the leaves and in the thickness of the seeds and nuts.

Thus, the correct answer is option A i.e, Parenchyma- Cells are thin walled and unspecialised, Sclerenchyma- Cells are thick walled and lignified.

Note: Collenchyma tissue consists of elongated cells with irregularly thickened walls. They provide structural support, particularly for growing shoots and leaves. Collenchyma tissue is made up of things like the resilient strands of celery stalks. Collenchyma cells usually live, and have only a thick primary cell wall made up of cellulose and pectin.