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2.23: Plant Cell Structure

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    12175
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    Do plants have cells like yours?

    Yes, your cells are actually very similar to a plant's cells. For example, they are both eukaryotic cells, both contain DNA in a nucleus, and both make proteins in ribosomes. However, plant cells also differ in some crucial ways from your own cells.

    Plant Cells

    Even though plants and animals are both eukaryotes, plant cells differ in some ways from animal cells (Figure below). Plant cells have a large central vacuole, are surrounded by a cell wall, and have chloroplasts, which are the organelles of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis converts the sun's solar energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy, which is the carbohydrate glucose, serves as "food" for the plant.

    Features of a plant cell
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): A plant cell has several features that make it different from an animal cell, including a cell wall, huge vacuoles, and chloroplasts, which photosynthesize.

    Vacuoles

    First, plant cells have a large central vacuole that holds a mixture of water, nutrients, and wastes. A plant cell's vacuole can make up 90% of the cell’s volume. The large central vacuole essentially stores water. In animal cells, vacuoles are much smaller.

    Cell Wall

    Second, plant cells have a cell wall, while animal cells do not (Figure below). The cell wall surrounds the plasma membrane but does not keep substances from entering or leaving the cell. A cell wall gives the plant cell strength and protection.

    Microscope image of chloroplasts and cell walls in plant cells
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): In this photo of plant cells taken with a light microscope, you can see green chloroplasts, as well as a cell wall around each cell.

    Plastids

    A third difference between plant and animal cells is that plants have several kinds of organelles called plastids. And there are several different kinds of plastids in plant cells. For example, Chloroplasts are needed for photosynthesis, leucoplasts can store starch or oil, and brightly colored chromoplasts give some flowers and fruits their yellow, orange, or red color. It is the presence of chloroplasts and the ability to photosynthesize, that is one of the defining features of a plant. No animal or fungi can photosynthesize, and only some protists are able to. The photosynthetic protists are the plant-like protists, represented mainly by the unicellular algae.

    Summary

    • Plant and animal cells differ in that plants have a large central vacuole, while animals have smaller vacuoles.
    • Plant cells also have cell walls and plastids, while animal cells do not.

    Explore More

    Use the resource below to answer the following questions.

    1. Compare and contrast the vacuoles of plant cells and the vacuoles of animal cells.
    2. How is the appearance of thylakoids similar to the appearance of the Golgi apparatus?
    3. What kind of membrane do chloroplasts have? What other organelle has a similar type of membrane?
    4. What features do plant cells have in common with animal cells?

    Review

    1. What are three structures that are found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
    2. What is the role of the chloroplast?
    3. What is the main role of the plant vacuole?

    2.23: Plant Cell Structure is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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