A Look at Plant Cells - An Analysis of Their Key Components

As an eukaryotic organism a plant has cells that sharethe organism, I have mentioned above how the cell
many similarities with those from animals. However,wall plays a major role in strengthening the cell,
there are many specific organelles and features thatallowing for support of organs such as stems. The
are not present in animal cells. Two of the mainvacuole is a large liquid filled volume that allows a
differences are the presence of a vacuole, and of aplant cell turgidity. It is the chlorophyll present in
cell wall, which is mainly constructed of cellulose.plants that are responsible for the green color of
Another major feature of a plant cell that is notmost plants foliage, these organelles are able to
found in animals is the presence of a class of plastidsabsorb red and blue light. They are able to convert
known as chloroplasts. These contain chlorophyll andthe energy received from light photons into starch in
are the place where photosynthesis occurs in a plant.the photosynthesis process.
Other plastids include the starch containingMovements of nutrients and hormones are possible in
amyloplasts.a plant through use of specialized cells that make up
It is these key organelles of a plant cell that help tothe phloem system. Another major transport
make them unique in the eukaryotic kingdom, ofpathway in plants is that of the xylem, this is largely
which they share many organelles such as theinvolved in the transport of water throughout the
presence of a nucleus, mitochondrion, golgi bodies,plant. Xylem tissue; which is composed of lignified
endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasm.cells.
Many features of a plant cell play major roles within