Question

Differentiate between meristematic and permanent tissues in plants

Answer 1

	Meristematic tissue	Permanent tissue
(i)	Cells of this tissue divide throughout their life.	Cells of this tissue lose the ability to divide to take up specific functions.
(ii)	Meristematic tissues are located at specific regions of the plant e.g. apical meristem is located in apices (tips) of roots and shoots, etc.	Permanent tissues are distributed throughout the plant body.
(iii)	Cells of this tissue are very active, have dense cytoplasm, thin walls, and prominent nuclei. They lack vacuoles.	Cells of this tissue are vacuolated, vary in shape and size. Their cell walls may be thin or thick.
(iv)	The cell wall of the cells is cellulosic.	Cells walls may be made up of cellulose or lignin or suberin.
(v)	Cells of this tissue are living.	Cells of this tissue may be living (parenchyma) or dead(sclerenchyma).
(vi)	Intercellular spaces are absent in cells.	Intercellular spaces may be present or absent.