Chapter I: The Structural Organization of the Plant Cell

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the definitions and classifications related to plant cell structure and the diversity of the plant kingdom as described in the lecture notes.

Plant cells

The basic unit of life in organisms of the kingdom Plantae; they are eukaryotic and autotrophic cells with a true nucleus and specialized organelles.

Chloroplasts

Specialized organelles that capture light energy from the sun to create sugars via photosynthesis using water and $CO_2$.

Thallophytes

A group of primitive plants or plant-like organisms, named from the Greek "Thallos" (undifferentiated) and "phyton" (plant), that lack differentiated stems, leaves, and roots.

Algae

A part of the Thallophytes that is autotrophic and contains chlorophyll.

Fungi

In classic classification, a group of Thallophytes devoid of chlorophyll and adapted to heterotrophic nutrition, now considered a distinct kingdom.

Lichens

Thallophytes adapted to life in symbiosis with algae or with cyanophytes.

Cormophytes

Higher plants composed of multicellular organisms whose eukaryotic cells are united into tissues forming a cormus (stem, leaves, and roots).

Bryophytes

A division of green plants (embryophytes) that are land-based, non-vascular, and lack a real root system, comprising around $20,000$ species.

Pteridophytes

Primitive vascular plants, also known as vascular cryptogams, that lack seeds and have bodies differentiated into true roots, stems, and leaves (fronds).

Spermaphytes

Also known as seed plants, these are a subset of embryophytes that produce seeds and are the most common plants on earth today.

Gymnosperms

Vascular, seed-bearing, flowerless plants whose name means "naked seed"; they are typically cone-bearing and do not require wet conditions for reproduction.

Angiosperms

Flower-producing plants whose name means "covered seed"; they produce fruits and contain approximately $235.000$ known living species.

Monocots

A category of angiosperms determined by the presence of one cotyledon in the seed (e.g., wheat, banana, onions).

Dicots

A category of angiosperms determined by the presence of two cotyledons in the seed (e.g., apples, mango, oranges).

Cell wall

A structural layer next to the cell membrane composed of $90\%$ carbohydrates (pectin, hemicellulose, cellulose) and $10\%$ proteins that provides rigidity and protection.

Primary cell wall

A thin, extensible layer generated as the plant cell grows.

Secondary cell wall

A thick layer created inside the primary cell wall after the cell has fully developed; it is not present in every type of cell.

Middle lamella

A stratum high in pectin that creates the connection and interaction between neighboring plant cells.

Central vacuole

An organelle that can occupy between $30\%$ and $90\%$ of a mature plant cell's volume, primarily serving to maintain turgor pressure.

Tonoplast

The membrane that surrounds the central vacuole.

Cell sap

A mixture of water, enzymes, ions, salts, and other substances found within the central vacuole.

Plastids

A diverse group of double-membrane eukaryotic organelles physiologically and genetically related that play important roles in plant metabolism.

Proplastids

Undifferentiated plastids that may undergo differentiation into various specialized forms depending on the cell's function.

Chromoplasts

Plastids containing carotene pigments that give yellow, red, or orange colors to flowers, ripe fruits, and autumn leaves.

Leucoplasts

Non-pigmented, colorless organelles usually found in non-photosynthetic parts like roots that store starches, lipids, and proteins.

Amyloplasts

Plastids specialized in starch storage, commonly found in reserve organs such as potato tubers.