EXPERIMENT 2

To prepare and study the T.S. of dicot and monocot roots and stems
(primary).
AHEORY/PRINCIPLE
To study the transverse section, i.e. internal morphology of roots and stems of
monocot and dicot
plants, we first need to understand their internal organization into various tissues.
Atissue is a group of cells having a common originand usually perform a common function. Plant body
is made up of different kinds of tissues which help in proper body function by allowing division of
labour. Tissue may be simple that contains only one type of cels, like parenchymna, sclerenchyma or
collenchyma or may be complex (containing more than one type of cells) like xylem and phloem.
Different types of cells in a tissue differ in their structure, shape, size, function and wall
The internal organisation of these tissues differs in roots, stems and leaves.
composition.

REQUIREMENTS
Sample of stems and roots of sunflower, CuCurbita, maize or any other locally available monocot and
dicot plants, sharp blade, watch glass, petridish, brush, needles, beakers, forceps, dye-safranin,
glycerine, coverslip, dilute acid water, glass slides, blotting paper and microscope.

2 PROCEDURE
Sectioning of Different Tissues
11th A. Take 2-3 cm long pieces of root and stem of monocot and dicot plants
of tooth pick.
preferably of the thickness
Class
2:Use pith of potato or raw papaya for embedding the material to be sectioned Fix the piece in the
pith properly.
BIOLOGY
3. Now, hold it properly between thumb and first finger of left hand in such a
and outer smooth surface of material lie in a line.
way that the tip of finger
L4. Wet the surfaces of blade and cut the section of root with the help of
it.|Carefully move the
horizontally over the surface of material in quick suCcession in a manner that a very thinblade
Manual and
Complete slice of the material is cut and obtained over the surface of razor.
8.Cut the section of shoot in the same manner and transfer all the cut pieces
into a watch glass
Laboratory Containingwater.
6. Select a thin, uniform andcomplete section and transfer it to the
with the help of needle and brush.
glass slide having adrop of water,

Staining of Tissues
1. Put 2-3 drops of stain safranin over the section on the glass slide and allow it to
stand for twominutes.
2. Wash away the excess stain with acid water.

24
 3. Put a drop of
glycerine as
A. Observe the section undermounting
the
medium over the section and cover it
with the
microscope. coverslip
OBSERVATION
T.S. of Dicot Root
Aroot
develops from the radicle part of an
T.S. of a dicot root
shows embryo.
Allthe lignified tissues suchfollowing features:
as
sclerenchyma, collenchyma are stained with safranin as red.
Epiblema or It is a single, outermost
Piliferous layerhave an outward extensionlayerto form
of thin walled,
compactly arranged cells. Some cells
the unicellular
Cortex absorption water and mineral salts from soil. root hair that increases the area of
of
Below the layer of epiblema lies many
layers of cortex forrned with simple
Endodermis parenchyma cells with intercellular spacesThese may contain leucoplasts.thin-walled
It is a single, circular layer of
intercellular spaces between compactly arranged, barrel-shaped cells.|There are no
the cells. This layer separates the cortex with vascular
tissues. Sometimes, a band of thickening, called
radial and inner walls of casparian strip, is found on the
endodermis.
Root hair
Epidermis
epiblema

Cortex

Endodermis
Pericycle
Phloem
Vascular
bundle
Xylem
Pith
2
11th
Fig. 2.1 T.S. of a dicot root Class
Pericycle It is a single circular layer of cells that lies internal to the endodermis.These are
BIOL
thin walled parenchyma cells with abundant protoplasm and compact
arrangement.
Va[cular bundle In a dicot root, vascular bundle is arranged in a ring. 2-6
alternately arranged
bundles of,xylem and phloem called radial vascular bundle, are present Ma
separatelý| Xylem bundle shows exarch condition, i.e. protoxylem lies
towards the periphery and metaxylem towards the centre. Xylem vessels are
polygonal in outline.
Conjunctive tissues Xylem and phloem cells in vascular bundles are separated from each other by
ho
the parenchyma cels called conjunctive tissues.
Pith It ocqupies the central area and iseither poorly developed orabsent in a dicot
root |It consists of parenchyma cells with intercellular spaces.
Examples of dicot root Phaseolus radiatus, Ranuculus, Cicer, Ficus.

25
 Laboratorv Manuai BIOLOGY Class 11th
2
Hypodermis
internodes.
Epidermiscutting
Uponthe embryoShoot
Examples
Pith
and is Conjunctive
tissue Vascular
bundles TS.
the
bears of of
inconspicuous against
It COvered
primarily preventing role in central monocot a
lies epidermal It
transverse monOcot
is lateral
just composed ascending
givesbelowvarious with appendages root root
hairs
a section Theseparate The sieve
parenchymatous packing
below diseases
mechanical thin Canna, tissues. present, In
phloemare shows
centre.seen,radial,
he
texcessive central monocot
layer
are of portion parenchymatous
epidermis parenchymatous of tubes, i.e. the
the present. T.S. Zea Fig. i.e. Xylem
of the called
stomata. and cuticle of 2.2 part them protoxylemxylem following T.S.
dicot of mays, companion root,
T.S. of vessels
26 strength other loss leaves. the cells are of
and It monocot and more
ofand is stem, plant Dicot of structural
features.
Srmilax, a with called lies this Monocot
consists types water the monocot cells arephloem
to bears Stem cells
rectangular the
outermost axis, Stem root
intercellularconjunctive thatrounded
towardscondition than
the trom
of Alium
following is and 6
mechanical of few root is lie lie
the normallywhich Occupied between
(8 Root
stem. 3-4 stomata. cepa. phloem orthe on or
is
plant different
outer
oval called
more)
layers protectivecells. develops spaces.
It features
shown:are tissues.)
is as divided byparenchyma. in
the side alternate
polyarch.
injuries.
either of Multicellular The Cortex shape
radi.]Exarch
well Itwell
collenchymatous -Pith is Thesexylem and
former layer into from Endodermis
Phloem-XylemJ Pericycle Epidermis
epiblema or Root
hair
as developed
large and
absent bundles
protectingthe multiple
nodesand the and metaxylemVascular
of has Vascular
bundle in are phloemn
the plumule size. phloem xylem
or trichomes
an also
pith of
becomes stem.It
important towards
condition
bundlesxylem
cells. formed called andconsists
plant of
the also are and
It is or of as ofthe is
 Examples Pith Medullary
rays Vascular
bundles Pericycle Endodermis Cortex

of
dicot
sheath.
Itabsent.
present. barrel-shaped layer.
It
intercellular
present It
stempresent is is is
and These
It between
rounded, transport interfascicular wedge-shaped
stripphloem,pericycle.These
procambiumendarch. multilayered the composed
is Endodermis
Helianthus, also
cortex.(They It in
is lies innermostsunflower
between are present are spaces.
called the xylem
In These in
oval gases arranged cells
vascular also between between of
with
lyingwhich
and and ar e in
which These
thin-walled,
Tinospora, them or astrom help cambium. called layer stem
polygonal medulla. alternatingsunflower
pithbundles. between cambium xylem conjoint,
definite in Fig. the
and in as is the is of which cells
27 2-3 2.3 endodermis devoid
Ricinus, these It pith
to the Continuous
and the
cortex in form Anatomy stem
parenchymatous forms radial The cel l collateral are
may oval
rays. two (fascicular
phloem number. bands general
cells medullary thick of contains of surroundedContain
Xanthium. the
conductionand or
These adjacent a of and intercellular
store central vice ring and of Each and ring dicot of cortexchloroplasts. rounded
parenchyma th e starch
fOod versa. rayscambium are of isthe or openaround stem
intertascicular)
called vascular vasCular by
cells.Intercellular part non-vascular of vascular vascular consisting parenchyma
Phloem therefore,
material connect (sunflower) -Xylem
Cambium
and spaces.Casparian a
of food fascicular a hair
ductOil Multicellular glandular
the are
central Medullary (Parenchyma)
raysPericycle (Collenchyma)
CortexHypoderrnis Epidermis
and is bundle, bundle bundles. and Sometimes
and stem th e seen
bundles equal
Vascular
bundle it of
water. pithareas
in and pith covered sclerenchyma is
water and is in calledparenchymatous a cells
cambium.
an compOsedsize[They
are single
with procambium a and
spaces
consists These present adult are by poSsessing oil
products. pericycle open cuticle as ducts
inner strips
stem.called starch layered
also The and are cells
are of in of to are are

Laboratory Manual BIOLOGY Class 11th

2
 Laboratory ManuaB BIOLOGY Class 11th
2
Hypodermis Epidermis T.S.
Ground
of
a
tissue monocot

intercellular
spaces. The Itthe It are It
parenchymatous
lies is isstem
groundepidermis absent
2-3 the
below
layered, singleshows
and
tissue the and
Fig. stomata
outermost following
hypodermis lignified cells.
2.5 provide T.S.
is
TS. It Fig.
made specific of 2.4
and are is
of mechanical present uniserate layerMonocot
monocot to T.S.
28 upthe consists
of
features: of
of
centre thin-walled, dicot
stem at
rounded strength offew and stem
sclerenchymatous covered Stem
(maize) of places
the (sunflower)
Medullary Cambiurn
Metaxylerm
Pith ray Protoxylem Endodermis
PhloernPericycle Cortex
Oil hair
Cuticle stem
EpidermisMulticelular
ductHypoderris
parenchymatous stem to compactly
the inwith
Ground
tissue Bundle
Xylem Phloemsheath Cortex EpidermisCuticle
Hypodermis the
(except stem. a
epidermis. thick Vascular bundle

cells arranged,
cuticle.Epidermal
the
vascular
cells which
barrel-shaped,
with lie
bundles). just
distinct below hairs
 Vascular system In monocots, a large number of vascular bundles lie scattered throughout
the ground tisSue.These are smaller in size and are more in number towards
periphery than centre. Each vascular bundle is surrounded by
sclerenchymatous bundle sheath.
Examples of monocot stem Zea mayS, Canna, Asparagus, Doob grass.

PRECAUTIONS
The section should be cut and transferred directly in water.
not be visualised
Keep the sections dipped in water because they may get dried out andcells will
clearly if kept outside.
Brush should be used while handling the section.
The section should be thin, even and transparent.
Sharp blade or razor without any paick should be used for cutting section.
Air bubble should be avoided by placingcOverslip very gently over the stained section.
Extra glycerine and stains should be avoided by wiping it gently with the help of a filter paper.