Aamrapali observed that a young mango sapling’s stem bends flexibly. Class 9

Aamrapali observed that a young mango sapling’s stem bends flexibly. Class 9

Question 1.

Aamrapali observed that a young mango sapling’s stem bends flexibly during monsoon winds and does not break. Which tissue is responsible for this flexibility? Predict and provide your explanation of the impact if the existing tissue was replaced by sclerenchyma. Class 9

Answer:

The tissue responsible for the flexibility of the young mango sapling's stem is collenchyma. Collenchyma consists of living cells with unevenly thickened corners due to pectin (a chemical that provides rubber-like flexibility). This tissue allows the stem to bend without breaking when subjected to wind. If collenchyma was replaced by sclerenchyma, the stem would become hard, brittle and rigid because sclerenchyma cells have thick walls with lignin deposition that makes them dead and inflexible.

Instead of bending, the stem would snap and break under the force of monsoon winds. The plant would have no ability to withstand mechanical stress. This shows why different tissues have different compositions suited to their specific functions - collenchyma for flexible support in young plants, sclerenchyma for hard, permanent support in mature parts.