Plant Differentiation And Development: Types & Growth Phases

Plant differentiation is the process in which the cells of the root, apical meristems, cambium, and the shoot are matured to undergo certain functions. The process of development involves two steps basically i.e. growth and differentiation. The process of development of a mature plant from its zygote (fertilised egg) form follows specific and sequential events. The course of formation of a complex body organisation produces roots, branches, leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds, and later they die.

Key Takeaways: Differentiation, Developmental, Growth Phase, Vascular, Parenchyma Cells

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What is Differentiation?

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The process in which the cells of the root, apical meristems, cambium, and the shoot are matured to undergo certain functions is called plant differentiation. A plant cell has to undergo many structural changes. It includes the formation of tracheary elements in a plant; also a loss of protoplasm can be witnessed. They possess very strong, elastic, lingo-cellulosic secondary cell walls to retain water to extreme conditions as well.

Differentiation in Plants

Differentiation takes place multiple times during the formation of a multicellular organism as it changes from a simple Zygote to a complex system of tissue and cell type. It is the process in which one cell type of cell changes to another, more distinctively to a more specialized type. 

The important advantage of cell differentiation is that cells become more efficient at a certain task, maintain energy because they have to perform that one task, and have to do that task at a faster rate. 

Several functions of differentiation are managed by hormones like Auxin, which plays an effective role in the differentiation of vessel components. Auxin released by the young leaves and apical meristem above the wound induces Parenchyma cells. Parenchyma cells regenerate the damaged vascular tissues.

Cell Differentiation Stages

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Types of Differentiation

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There are two types of differentiation-

Dedifferentiation Process: An interesting phenomenon about plants is the living differentiated cells that with time lose the capacity to divide can regenerate the ability of division under specific conditions. This phenomenon is termed as dedifferentiation. 

Dedifferentiation in Plants

For example, the formation of meristems includes the interfascicular cambium and cork cambium from fully differentiated parenchyma cells. Similarly, normal cells of the human body dedifferentiate resulting in the formation of tumor cells.

Redifferentiation Process: A dedifferentiated plant cell in the process loses the capacity to divide another time and becomes mature; it is called the Redifferentiation process. While in this process, the cells are matured in sequence to perform some distinctive functions.

Redifferentiation Process

Examples of redifferentiation that can be included are the formations of cork, secondary phloem, secondary xylem, secondary cortex, and many more.

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Developmental Phase

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Generally most plants keep growing throughout their life; they mature through a combination process of cell growth and cell division (mitosis). The development phase comprises changes that every organism has to go through throughout its life. In plants, this development process starts with the germination of the seed and it ends with senescence. This process includes steps like:

• Cell division
• Elongation of cell
• Differentiation cell
• Maturation 

Cell division takes place in the meristematic tissue of plants thereafter the elongation process takes place. After which the cell engages in the differentiation process and develops into a mature cell which again undergoes aging and finally dies. The development process is the combination of both intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors as well. The intrinsic factor includes genetic and chemical factors whereas extrinsic factors are the basic components of nature that includes sunlight, minerals, nutrients, water, etc.

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Growth Phase

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Growth phase of a plant is a simultaneous process that are generally classified into various types and stages- 

• Primary and Secondary Growth: Primary growth is stated as the increase in the length of the plant body due to mitotic division of meristematic cells present at the root and shoot apex. The secondary growth defines the increase in the diameter of the plant body due to secondary meristems. 
• Unlimited Growth: This stage is also known as the intermediate type of growth. In this stage, the root and the shoot system of plants keeps growing continuously from its germination stage to its death and sometimes this might vary for its lifespan of the plant. 

Growth Phase in Plants

• Limited Growth: The leaves, flowers and fruit cease to grow after obtaining a certain size. This is called a ‘limited’ as well as ‘determinate’ type of growth. 
• Vegetative Growth: The early growth stage of plants that produces branches, leaves, and stems but does not bear flowers is called ‘vegetative growth.
• Reproductive Growth: After the plant undergoes the vegetative growth phase, it starts to bear a flower which is also known as the reproductive part of the plant. This is known as reproductive growth.

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Things to Remember

• The general process of development of a plant includes two steps basically i.e, growth and differentiation.
• The course of formation of a complex body organisation of a plant involves the production of roots, branches, leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds, and later they die.
• The cells of the root, apical meristems, cambium, and the shoot are matured to undergo distinct functions and this process is termed plant differentiation.
• Differentiation takes place multiple times during the formation of a multicellular organism as it changes from a simple Zygote to a complex system of tissue and cell type.
• Differentiation is of two types- dedifferentiation and redifferentiation.

• The process of development includes four phases i.e, Cell division, Elongation of the cell, Differentiation of cell, Maturation.
• Growth phase of a plant is a continuous process involving various steps are Primary and Secondary Growth, Unlimited Growth, Limited Growth, Vegetative Growth, Reproductive Growth