Question

The living tissue that provides support to the growing parts of the plant is :

• A. Sclerenchyma
• B. Collenchyma
• C. Parenchyma
• D. Fibres

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Collenchyma

The correct option is B:

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Collenchyma is an elastic, living mechanical tissue.
2. The cell wall of collenchyma contains cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin which makes the cell wall thick at the corner and provides strength to the walls.
3. They provide mechanical support to the growing parts of the plants.
4. Collenchyma resists the bending of stems and tearing out of young leaves due to environmental factors.
5. It also helps in the synthesis of food materials.

Explanation of the incorrect options

Option A:

1. Sclerenchyma is composed of dead cells.
2. They provide mechanical support.
3. Therefore collenchyma is living and provides mechanical strength to the plants.

Option C:

1. Parenchyma are living cells.
2. They help in the storage of food, and transport of materials and also provide turgidity to the plants.

Option D:

1. Fibres are dead cells present in the vascular conductive tissue of plants.
2. They provide mechanical support to the vascular tissues of plants.

Final answer: The living tissue that provides support to the growing parts of the plant is collenchyma.