Question

Which among the following simple living tissues provides mechanical strength to the plant?

• A. sclerenchyma
• B. parenchyma
• C. chlorenchyma
• D. collenchyma

Answer 1

The correct option is D collenchyma

Collenchyma is an example of a simple permanent living mechanical tissue. The cell wall is made of cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. The presence of pectin enables the tissue to provide mechanical support to the plant. It is normally found in the hypodermal region (below the epidermis) of the plant tissues.


Parenchyma is simple permanent living tissue and the cell wall is made up of cellulose. It does not provide any mechanical support. It is found in every part of the plant body. It helps in storage of starch, exchange of gases, in secretion and in buoyancy.


When chloroplasts are found in parenchyma and collenchyma, the tissue is called chlorenchyma and it helps in photosynthesis.

Sclerenchyma is an example of a simple permanent but dead mechanical tissue. It does not have a living protoplast. It has a cell wall that is made up of cellulose and lignin. It provides mechanical support to the plant.