______ part of xylem tissue in plants stores food.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3. i.e. Xylem parenchyma.
Xylem parenchyma cells can store water, which is essential for the proper functioning of a plant. Water stored in the living cells of wood is a fraction of intracellular water storage, which also includes the cells of the pith and the layers outside the vascular cambium, such as the phloem. Xylem parenchyma helps in the radial conduction of water and helps in healing and regeneration under water stress conditions.
The main characteristics of xylem parenchyma are:
- The cell wall is cellulosic and thin.
- They have a prominent nucleus and protoplast.
- Cells are colourless and have large vacuoles.
- Reserve food material is in the form of starch, fats, tannins, and crystals.
- Conduction of water takes place in the ray parenchymatous cell.