Chapter 2 What The Main Compound Found The Cell

Laboratory Investigation # 2

Plant Cells and Tissues

Description of the Lab

This lab focuses on microscopic observation of plant cells and tissues. Prepared

Outline of Investigation

1. Cell Structure

A. Red onion

2. Mature Cell Types

A. Begonia

Razor blades (single-edge), microscope slides and distilled water

3. Tissues systems

4. Vascular Tissue

A. Helianthus Stem, prepared slides

B. Pinus (pine) stem, radial tangential section, prepared slide

C. Magnolia stem, longitudinal tangential section, prepared slide

D. Cucurbita (squash) stem, cross section, prepared slide

Laboratory Materials and Equipment for Student Use

Materials and Equipment

Per

Student

Per Pair of

Students

Per Lab

Group

Per

Room

Forceps

1

Microscopes slides

1 box

Microscopes coverslips

1 box

Razor blades (single-edge)

1

Fresh live material

Prepared slides

Sunflower (Helianthus) stem cross section

(primary growth only)

1

Oak (Quercus) macerated wood

1

Buttercup (Ranunculus) root cross section

1

Magnolia (Magnolia) wood tangential

1

Reagents

1% Neutral Red solution (100 mL)

1

Phloroglucinol stain solution

1

Preparation of laboratory Materials and Reagents

Neutral Red Solution

1% solution

1. Weight 1 gram of Neutral Red stain and place into a beaker.

3. Dissolve by low to medium heat.

Phloroglucinol

Purchase stain. This comes already made.

Two week prior to the lab

Red onion (Allium)

3

10

1

1 day prior to the lab

Questions for Lab #2. Plant Cells and Tissues

Use the knowledge you acquired in this lab exercise, along with information from your

textbook, to answer the following questions.

1. What makes a eukaryotic cell different from a prokaryotic cell?

2. How are plant cells different from animal cells?

3. What is the main compound found in the cell wall?

4. What is the main function of a cell’s nucleus?

The nucleus has two main functions, 1) control activities of the cells via gene

5. Give two functions of a cell’s vacuole.

The vacuole can help maintain the shape of the cell by turgid pressure (water uptake)

6. Which are the three main types of cells found in plants and what characteristics help us

differentiate between these three types of cells?

All the mature cells in the plant body can be classified into one of three types:

7. What is the difference between simple and complex tissues?

8. What are the three tissue systems of the plant body?

9. What are the two types of vascular tissue and what is the function of each of these two

tissues?

The vascular tissue system consists of two complex tissues specialized in the transport

10. Why are tracheids and vessel elements classified as sclerenchyma? What is the

difference between tracheids and vessel elements and what do they have in common?

Both tracheids and vessel elements are dead and are hollow with only their cell walls

11. What are companion cells and what is their role?

Companion cells assist the sieve-tube elements of phloem in conducting food. They