Meristematic tissue is a type of plant tissue that is made up of a group of cells that divide continuously to form new cells. These tissues contain undifferentiated cells, which are the building blocks of specialized plant structures. The cells of these tissues are known as meristems. Meristematic tissues have the quality of self-renewal, and every time the cell divides, one cell remains identical to the parent cell, and the others form specialized structures. They have very small and few vacuoles, and the protoplasm of the cells is very dense. The meristematic tissues heal the wounds of an injured plant, and they exhibit a very high metabolic activity.
Meristematic tissues are mainly divided into three types based on their position in plants:
-
Apical Meristem: This type of meristematic tissue is found at the growing tips of roots and shoots, and it is responsible for the primary growth of the plant.
-
Lateral Meristem: This type of meristematic tissue is found in the cambium layer of the stem and roots, and it is responsible for the secondary growth of the plant.
-
Intercalary Meristem: This type of meristematic tissue is found in the internodes of grasses, and it is responsible for the elongation of the stem.
Meristematic tissues have the following characteristics:
- They are alive and made up of an undifferentiated swarm of rapidly dividing cells.
- The tissue is made up of totipotent (all-powerful) cells.
- Cells might be spherical, polygonal, or elongated.
- They possess a single, large, and prominent nucleus.
In summary, meristematic tissue is a type of plant tissue that contains undifferentiated cells that divide continuously to form new cells. They are mainly divided into three types based on their position in plants, and they have the quality of self-renewal.
