Permanent tissues and meristematic tissues are two main types of plant tissues that differ in structure and function.
Here’s the difference explained :
- Cell division:
- Meristematic tissues have cells that are actively dividing.
- Permanent tissues have cells that have stopped dividing and are specialized for specific functions.
- Cell shape and size:
- Cells in meristematic tissue are small, with thin walls and dense cytoplasm.
- Cells in permanent tissue are larger, may have thick walls, and often contain vacuoles.
- Function:
- Meristematic tissues help in growth — they produce new cells.
- Permanent tissues help in protection, support, storage, and transport.
- Location:
- Meristematic tissue is found in growing regions like root tips, shoot tips, and buds.
- Permanent tissue is found in all mature parts of the plant, like stems, leaves, and roots.
In short, meristematic tissues are responsible for plant growth, while permanent tissues perform specific functions once growth has occurred.