10.1: Plant Cell Structure and Components
- Page ID
- 35361
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Plant Cells
![A plant cell with all organelles and structures labeled.](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/44702/2560px-Plant_cell_structure-en.svg.png?revision=1)
Plant Cell Components
Cell Wall, Plasma Membrane, and Middle Lamella
![The layered structures forming the cell membrane, primary wall, and middle lamellae](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/44703/Plant_cell_wall_diagram-en.svg.png?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=671&height=388)
![The plasma membrane, composed of a phospholipid bilayer, proteins, and carbohydrates](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/44704/2560px-Cell_membrane_detailed_diagram_blank.svg.png?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=950&height=391)
Plasmodesmata are channels through the cell wall and middle lamella where the plasma membrane of adjacent cells (and therefore the cytoplasm) is connected.
![Plasmodesmata connecting cells in a red pepper epidermis](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26946/Pepper_Epidermis_Plasmodesmata.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=560&height=378)
The Nucleus
![Details of a cell nucleus from an electron microscope](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/29996/InkedMicrograph_of_a_cell_nucleus_LI.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=370&height=363)
![A boxy onion cell with no visible components except a large, globose nucleus](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/44715/2560px-Nucleus_of_living_onion_epidermis_cell_(34062338520).jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=760&height=427)
Plastids
Plastids are organelles that are the result of an endosymbiotic event in the evolutionary history of plants. In plants, plastids have two membranes.
Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are plastids that contain green pigments called chlorophylls.
![Cells in an Elodea leaf, showing chloroplasts lining the edges](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26944/Elodea_Chloroplasts_by_Melissa.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=531&height=361)
![Chloroplast anatomy](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26945/Chloroplast_Anatomy.png?revision=1)
Chromoplasts
Chromoplasts are plastids that do not contain chlorophyll, but do contain other pigments, such as carotenoids. Carotenoid pigments reflect colors like yellow, orange, and red.
![Chromoplasts within the epidermal cells of red pepper](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26940/Chromoplasts_1_Melissa.jpeg?revision=1)
![A closer image of red pepper epidermal cells and chromoplasts](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26941/Pepper_Chromoplasts_Color_2.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=507&height=381)
Leucoplasts
Leucoplasts are plastids that do not contain pigments. The main function of leucoplasts is to store starches and oils. Leucoplasts that store starch are called amyloplasts (as in amylose).
![Amyloplasts in potato cells that have been stained with iodine](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26938/Amyloplasts_by_Melissa.jpeg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=472&height=344)
The Central Vacuole
The central vacuole is a large organelle that often fills most of the plant cell. It is filled with liquid and surrounded by a membrane called the tonoplast. Plants can alter the solute concentration in the central vacuole to influence cell structure and movement of water. It is also a place to store pigments, such as anthocyanins, or other secondary metabolites, such as phytotoxins.
![Elodea leaf cells](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26943/Elodea_by_Melissa.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=535&height=364)
![Plasmolysis of Elodea cells in salt water](https://bio.libretexts.org/@api/deki/files/26942/Plasmolysis_of_Elodea.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=570&height=491)