What is the function of the epidermis in plants?

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Jasmine Grover

Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead

The epidermis is the outermost layer of cells in both animals and plants.

  • In animals, the epidermis serves to protect the underlying tissues and organs from external damage.
  • In plants, the epidermis functions in a similar way to protect the plant from external damage and prevent water loss.
  • In plants, the epidermis is composed of a single layer of cells that cover the entire surface of the plant, including the leaves, stems, and roots.
  • Plant tissues are classified as the epidermis, ground tissue, and vascular tissue.

Role of Epidermis in Plants

Epidermis provides a protective barrier against environmental stresses such as drought, excess light, and pathogens.

  • The epidermis in plants has stomata, which are small pores on the surface of the leaves that allow for gas exchange between the plant and the atmosphere.
  • The stomata are surrounded by specialized cells called guard cells, which regulate their opening and closing to control the rate of gas exchange and water loss.
  • It regulates the secretion of metabolic substances.
  • Epidermis absorbs water and essential minerals.
  • It protects the plant from mechanical injury and parasitic fungus invasion and facilitates the absorption of water by roots.

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.
    Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
    India is one of the megadiverse countries housing around 8·1 per cent of global species diversity, although its land area is only 2·4 per cent of the world’s land area. Many of the species are highly threatened due to human activities like deforestation, mining and habitat fragmentation. Laws like Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 were enacted by the Government of India to preserve our biological wealth. Various conservation measures are being implemented to save the threatened species. The following bar graph shows the number of species conserved under different biodiversity conservation methods.

    Which other methods shown in the diagram are opposite to the one identified by you in question ? How are these two conservation approaches different?
    (c) Write two features of Biodiversity hotspots.
    (c) To which category do sacred groves belong and how do they help in bio-conservation?


      • 2.
        "Early and accurate diagnosis of diseases is vital in medical technology."
        Name the conventional methods of diagnosis and their disadvantages.
        Which three diagnostic techniques have been developed through Biotechnology ? Explain how each one helps in detecting diseases.


          • 3.
            Work out the crosses between:
            Normal female and Haemophilic male
            Carrier female and Normal male
            (III) Carrier female and Haemophilic male
            Write the conclusions you draw from these crosses. Comment on the type of inheritance of the disease.
            (Use: $X$ - Normal, $X^h$ - Haemophilic)


              • 4.
                Draw a neat diagram of a maize grain showing the internal structure and label any five parts.


                  • 5.
                    In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a popular method these days that is helping childless couples to bear a child.
                    Write the different steps that are carried out in this technique.
                    Would you consider gamete intra fallopian transfer as a type of IVF? Justify your answer.


                      • 6.
                        What is the carrying capacity of a species in a habitat?
                        Explain the growth curve that takes this capacity into account.

                          CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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