what is aerenchyma tissue

Aerenchyma is a modified parenchymatous tissue that creates spaces or air channels in the leaves, stems, and roots of some plants, which allows exchange of gases between the shoot and the root. It is a tissue composed of a network of interconnected gas-conducting intercellular spaces that provide plant roots with oxygen under hypoxic conditions. The channels of air-filled cavities provide a low-resistance internal pathway for the exchange of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene between the plant above the water and the submerged tissues. Aerenchyma is also widespread in aquatic and wetland plants that must grow in hypoxic soils. The word "aerenchyma" is Modern Latin derived from Latin aer for "air" and Greek enkhyma for "infusion".