Textbook Problem

In plants, fibers are a type of _____ cell.

a. parenchyma	c. collenchyma
b. sclerenchyma	d. mesophyll

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Tissues of the plants can be simple or complex. Simple tissues are made up one type of cells. These cells are parenchyma cells, sclerenchyma cells, and collenchyma cells. Tissues which are made up of more than two types of cells are known as complex tissues.

Answer to Problem 1SA

Correct answer:

The example of sclerenchyma cells in plants is fibers. Hence, the correct answer is option b.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for correct answer:

Option b. is given as “sclerenchyma.”

Sclerenchyma is the tissues in plants that provide structural support to them. These tissues are made up of two types of cells, one is fibers, and another is sclereids. The walls of these tissues are very thick because cellulose and lignin are present in high proportion in them.

Reason for incorrect answer:

Option a. is given as, “parenchyma”.

Parenchyma is a simple tissue that is made up of parenchyma cells. These cells help the plant in photosynthesis, in the storage of food, and these tissues help the plants to repair the tissues. Hence, option a. is incorrect.

Option c. is given as, “collenchyma”.

Collenchyma tissues are made up of elongated cells and these tissues support the plants structurally. The walls of its cells are thicker at the corners because of lignin deposition. Hence, option c. is incorrect.

Option d. is given as, “mesophyll”.

Mesophyll is a photosynthetic tissue in plants that is made up of parenchyma cells. These tissues are filled with chloroplasts. Hence, option d. is incorrect.

Hence, the options a., c., and d. are incorrect.

Conclusion

Therefore, fibers are a type of sclerenchyma cells in plants. Thus, the correct option is b.