what is the difference between tracheids and vessels?
Answers
Explanation:
Food, nutrients, water, minerals are transported from roots to leaves by two types of vascular tissues, viz, xylem and phloem.
Xylem tissue transports water and minerals from roots to other parts of the plants, with the help of tracheids and vessels. These Xylem tissues are also known as tracheary elements.
Cells of tracheids and vessels die at maturity, they have lignified walls, and they are present in primary as well as secondary Xylem. Below are some major differences between tracheids and vessels.
Tracheids vs Vessels
Following are the important difference between tracheids and vessels:
Tracheids Vessels
Presence
In all vascular plants In angiosperms
Type of cells
Imperforated Perforated
Cell wall
Thin Thick
Connection
Lateral End to end
Cross section
Polygonal Circular
Water conduction
Inefficient Very efficient
Lumen
Narrow Wide
Cell length
1 mm 10 cm
Surface to volume ratio
High Low
End walls
Tapering
Transverse or diagonal
Pits
Less large pits Large small pits
Answer:
Tracheids are elongated cells in the xylem of vascular plants that serve in the transport of water and mineral salts. Tracheids are one of two types of tracheary elements, vessel elements being the other. Tracheids, unlike vessel elements, do not have perforation plates.