How Do Young Plants Differ From Mature Plants?
How Do Young Plants Differ From Mature Plants?
The first step in plant development is germination from the seed. In most plants, this involves the seed opening its shell when in contact with water, cotyledons (seed leaves) appearing and the first real leaf forming.
The leaves of a young plant are smaller and softer than the leaves of an adult plant. They also have a different color.
Leaves
The leaves of young plants differ from the leaves of mature plants in terms of their shape, size and surface. They also change in response to changes in their environment.
Leaves are composed of different layers (figure 6). On the top and bottom is a layer of tough cells called the epidermis, which protects the other layers of leaf tissue. The arrangement of the epidermal cells determines the surface texture of the leaf blade. Some leaves have hairs, which are extensions of the epidermal cells.
There are two main types of leaves: simple and compound. In simple leaves, the leaf blade is a single unit; in compound leaves, the blade is divided into several small leaflike segments, as in honeylocust or horse chestnut.
A plant’s specific leaf area is a commonly used measure of its photosynthetic capacity and is correlated closely with other characteristics of the same species, such as its nitrogen concentration and growth rate. A high specific leaf area indicates a large carbon return per unit of mass invested in the leaf.
Another characteristic of leaves is their venation, which determines how easily they can be sliced or torn. The most common type of veining is parallel venation, where veins run essentially parallel to each other and are connected laterally by straight veinlets. In contrast, net venation occurs on dicotyledonous plants and involves branches that are subdivided into finer veinlets and then connected in a complicated network.
Despite their differences in form, young plants share many of the same features as mature plants, including stomata on their surfaces. These pores regulate the flow of water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the leaves. The opening and closing of stomata depends on environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. The same stomata are also important in regulating the movement of air within the leaves.
Stems
The roots and stems of young plants differ from those of mature plants in many ways. Among these differences are the function of the two organs and the way they are related to each other.
Plant roots serve several different functions, including absorption of water and nutrients. They also help to transport absorbed water and minerals to the leaves of a plant and to carry away products of photosynthesis, such as sugars.
Roots are generally long, extending from the base of the plant. They may be herbaceous (soft) or woody and they can grow below ground in the form of rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs.
They can be branched, like the trunks of trees or shrubs, or compressed, with short internodes between buds and leaves, as on crowns of strawberries or dandelions. Internode length varies with the season and with the plant’s needs.
Stems of young plants have a system of vascular bundles, which conduct xylem and phloem cells. This system can be thought of as a plant’s “plumbing.” It includes the vascular cambium, which continuously produces new xylem and phloem tissue.
A stem’s girth and strength depend on how much new tissue it can produce. It can increase in size by dividing cells to create new xylem and phloem.
The stems of dicotyledons, angiosperms with two seed leaves, and gymnosperms, the most common flowering plants, consist of a core of spongy ground tissue called the pith that is surrounded by a layer of cortex, which varies in thickness from species to species. The cortex is a soft, fleshy tissue made up of parenchyma cells and collenchyma cells.
The cortex contains trichomes, hair-like structures on the surface of the tissue that help to reduce transpiration, increase solar reflectance and store compounds that protect the stem from herbivores. It also carries pigments that contribute to the color of leaves.
Roots
A root is the part of a plant that develops underground and helps anchor the plant firmly in the soil. It absorbs water and minerals for use by the plant and stores food reserves.
Roots of young plants differ from mature roots in that they lack leaf scars and buds and lack a root cap. They also have branches that originate from internal tissue rather than from buds on the stem.
They are made up of a number of tissue types:
An epidermis forms around the root, covering it one cell layer thick and permitting absorption of water and nutrients. As the root grows, a thin periderm forms behind the epidermis and is eventually replaced by a thicker periderm.
The periderm has a dense cytoplasm that allows it to conduct water and minerals from the soil to the other parts of the plant. Mucilage, a viscous, high molecular weight, insoluble polysaccharide, is secreted by the epidermis and the periderm to lubricate and protect the root during growth.
This mucilage prevents desiccation, increases nutrient acquisition, and improves soil quality by binding soil particles together. The mucilage is derived from cells that line and cap the root meristem.
A primary root (also known as the seed radicle) evolves into one of two main types of roots: a taproot system or a fibrous root system. A taproot system is characteristic of many eudicots and most gymnosperms and has a large, main root that grows faster than branch roots.
Flowers
A young plant is a new baby plant that has just sprouted from a seed. It will have a small shoot, roots, and a few leaves as it grows.
A mature plant is a grown up plant that has grown from a seed and can produce flowers and fruits. It has roots and a stem that extract nutrients from the soil. The stem also serves to support the plant.
The seeds of plants come in different sizes and shapes, depending on the type of plant. They have a hard shell that protects the embryo inside. The seed coat will break open upon contact with sunlight to let light in and begin the process of photosynthesis.
When the seed is able to break through the seed coat, it will use the energy in sunlight and water to produce food for the growing plant. This process of photosynthesis will grow the seedling into a fully developed plant that can survive.
Most flowering plants follow a specific life cycle. The process starts with the germination of a seed (the seed will sprout from the soil and needs air, water, and sunlight to grow).
After germination, the seed will need some time in the soil before it can be put out in the sun. This time will help it to adjust to the conditions outside, so that it can become a healthy plant when it is ready to be planted out.
Once it is out in the sun, a flower will begin to develop. The flower will consist of petals that attract insects to the plant, and a stamen that produces pollen. This pollen contains half of the genetic material needed to make a new plant.
Fruits
A plant has leaves and roots that help it collect sunlight and nutrients from the soil. They also produce energy through a process called photosynthesis. The leaves can grow into mature plants that have flowers and fruit with seeds inside them.
A young plant, also called an offspring, is a miniature version of a parent plant. It has the same leaf shape, color, and vines as its parents, but it is smaller.
Young plants have a very short life cycle, so they must take advantage of all opportunities for growth. This is why they need to be strong and healthy so they can thrive.
They may also need to be planted in a place where they can be protected from heavy rainfall and harsh winter weather. Some fruits and vegetables are particularly susceptible to frost, so it is important to check their hardiness before you buy them.
Fruits are the ripened ovaries of a flower that contain one or more seeds (see Figure 1). They are produced by all flowering plants and include many types of food trees, such as grapes, oranges, pomegranates, and watermelons.
There are two main categories of fruits: fleshy and dry. Fleshy fruit is the group that includes most of the fruits that you see in the grocery store, such as peaches and apples. These fruits have a soft and juicy pericarp that is filled with water.
The ovaries of fruit are the part that contains the seeds, but they can also contain many different parts. These parts can include the ovary, style, and stigma. They can also be made up of several ovaries, a process known as parthenocarpy.