Meristematic Tissues: The term meristem was coined by Carl Wilhelm von Nägeli. Meristematic tissues have undifferentiated cells, which form the building blocks of the specialized plant structures. Meristematic tissues have living cells with varied shapes. They possess a large nucleus devoid of the vacuole. The cells have no intercellular space. The place where these cells exist is called Meristem. The cells of the meristematic tissue have the capability of dividing themselves actively to make specialized structures, like buds of leaves and flowers, tips of roots and shoots, etc. These cells help to increase the length and bulkiness of the plant.

Characteristics of Meristematic Tissues

The characteristics of meristematic tissue are the following:

• The cells of these tissues are known as Meristems.
• It has the quality of self-renewal as every time the cell divides, one cell remains just like the parent cell and the others form specialized structures.
• They have very small and few vacuoles.
• The meristematic tissues are living and thin-walled.
• The protoplasm of the cells is very dense.
• The meristematic tissues heal the injuries of an injured plant.
• These cells do not store food.
• They exhibit a very high metabolic activity.
• They possess a single, large, and prominent nucleus.

Types of Meristematic Tissue

The meristematic tissue is of the following types:

Meristematic Tissue On the basis of Origin

Promeristem

• The earliest and youngest meristematic tissue.

• It originates from the embryo.

• The primary meristem arises from the promeristem.

• It is found in the root and the shoot tips.

Primary Meristem

• It arises from the promeristem.

• Cells divide actively.

• It is present below the promeristem and forms the permanent tissue.

Secondary Meristem

• It originates from the primary meristem.

• The permanent tissue forms from the secondary meristem.

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By Team Learning Mantras