Collenchyma Tissue

Collenchyma tissue is a term given by a scientist named Schleiden in the year 1839. It is a kind of simple permanent supportive tissue that confers mechanical strength to the plant. The collenchyma cells appear as elongated cells with a non-uniform thickened cell wall.

Collenchymatous cells originate by the modification of parenchyma tissues into the cells, which comprises a thickened cell wall due to the deposition of cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin like substances.

It exists under the epidermis layer of stem, leaves, petiole etc. and may or may not contain chloroplast. Collenchyma tissues are of many types, based on their location and cell arrangement. This post describes the definition, characteristics, types, structure and functions of the collenchyma tissue.

Content: Collenchyma Tissue

1. Definition
2. Characteristics
3. Types
4. Functions
5. Structure
6. Conclusion

Definition of Collenchyma Tissue

Collenchyma tissue refers to the simple permanent tissue, which comprises axially elongated cells with a non-uniform and thickened cell wall (composed of pectin, cellulose and hemicellulose). Collenchymatous tissues are sometimes associated with vascular bundles and generally located in the hypodermis layer (underneath the epidermis).

Collenchyma cells lack hydrophobic components. It only gives mechanical strength to the plants when the cells are in a turgid state. It possesses a prominent nucleus with developed cell organelles and compact cell arrangement.

Characteristics

Collenchymatous tissues show the following features:

1. They are the living cells with living protoplasm and axially elongated cells.
2. The cell wall is thickened towards the cell’s corner due to pectin, cellulose and hemicellulose deposition. Sometimes, tannin also deposits within the cell wall.
3. Unlike sclerenchyma tissue, a collenchyma cell comprises a non-lignified cell wall.
4. Collenchyma cells are usually having a compact cell arrangement with little or no interstitial spaces.
5. The collenchyma cells possess varying cell shapes and sizes.
6. Generally, the collenchymatous tissues are absent in monocots and the region of the root system.
7. Collenchyma tissues predominantly exist just below the epidermis of dicotyledonous stems, leaves etc.
8. Their tissues are elastic or extensible, which gives flexibility to the stems in bending without breakage.

Types

Depending upon the pattern of wall thickening and cell arrangement and their location, the collenchyma tissues are classified into the following types:

Angular Collenchyma

It seems polygonal in shape. The thickening pattern of the cell wall is towards the corner. The extra-wall material deposits on the vertical walls where the cells meet.  It has a compact cell arrangement with no intercellular spaces.
Example: Petioles of Cucurbita in the hypodermis layer.

Annular Collenchyma

It consists of rounded cells and possesses invariably thickened cell wall.

Lamellar Collenchyma

It refers to the plate or tangential collenchyma, which possesses longitudinally elongated cells. The thickening pattern of the cell wall restricts the tangential walls. The intact rows of cells are arranged tangentially, leaving no intercellular spaces.
Example: Stem of Sambucus in the hypodermis layer.

Lacunar Collenchyma

It refers to the tubular collenchyma, which possesses spherical or oval-shaped cells. The thickening pattern of the cell wall is towards the direct contact of intercellular spaces.
Example: Petioles of Salvia, Malvia etc., in the hypodermis layer.

Peripheral Collenchyma

In this type, the collenchyma cells are located below the outermost epidermis layer and concentrated by one or more layers of parenchyma cells. It further subdivides into two kinds:

1. Continuous: Here, the collenchyma cells appear as a continuous layer.
2. Strand: Here, the cells appear as the discrete axial strands concentrated from one another by the parenchyma cells.

Fascicular Collenchyma

Here, the collenchyma cells are located in distinct regions with respect to the vascular bundles. Depending on the different locations, the fascicular collenchyma has the following three kinds:

1. Supracribal: This type of collenchyma tissue encircles the vascular bundle towards the phloem side.
2. Infraxylary: This type of collenchyma tissue encircles the vascular bundle towards the xylem side.
3. Circumfascicular: This type of collenchyma tissue fully encircles the vascular bundle.

Functions of Collenchyma Tissue

Collenchyma tissue performs the following tasks:

• Collenchyma cell induces rigorousness to the rising parts like stems, leaves etc., of the plant.
• It also permits the growth and elongation of the plant’s parts.
• The cells of collenchyma tissue have the capability of sclerification, after which the cell wall can modify itself to withstand bending stresses.
• Collenchyma tissue prevents contravention of the stems against wind and other environmental stresses.
• It improves the tensile strength of the plant body.
• Collenchyma cells confer elasticity in different parts like stems, petiole etc.

Structure of Collenchyma Tissue

Both the cell shape and size of collenchyma cells vary considerably depending on various factors like plant age, plant type etc. The length of the cell is approximately 2.5 mm. The shape ranges from small spherical or polyhedral cells to long, tubular-like cells with narrow ends.

A collenchyma cell is living in nature and having a vacuolated protoplast. Chloroplasts are rarely present inside the collenchyma cells. Primary pit fields are also observable under the microscopic study. Collenchyma cells either possess small or leaves no intercellular space.

The cell wall is unevenly thickened, and the concentration of pectin and hemicellulose is higher than that of cellulose. The composition of the collenchyma cell wall mainly includes 45% of pectin, 35% of hemicellulose and 20% of cellulose.

The scientist Anderson reported that the cell wall consists of firmly packed, interspersed cellulose with pectin lamellae in 1927. In addition to these two, some scientists have reported the presence of hemicellulose.

Cellulose is a polysaccharide that exists as a linear insoluble microfibril. Pectin is also a polysaccharide that has glue-like or adhesive properties. Pectin deposition prevalently occurs at the time of primary cell wall thickening. Hemicellulose includes xylans, mannans etc., whose function is to provide cell rigidity in combination with cellulose.

Conclusion

Therefore, a collenchyma cell is a supporting tissue whose cell wall material is irregularly distributed, due to which it has uneven cell wall thickenings. It is characteristically found in stems, leaves etc., of dicotyledonous plants.

Thus, we can conclude that the collenchyma tissue has three primary features like the presence of a living protoplast, thickened cell wall and axially elongated cells.