What is the Difference Between Sieve Cells and Sieve Tubes?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Sieve cells and sieve tubes are both elements of the phloem, the plant tissue responsible for transporting nutrients. However, they have distinct differences:
- Cell Structure: Sieve cells are long, narrow, and tapered at the ends, while sieve tube members are shorter and wider with more horizontal end walls.
- Arrangement: Sieve cells are single cells, whereas sieve tubes are longitudinal arrangements of sieve tube members from end to end.
- Presence of Sieve Pores: The sieve pores in sieve cells are present on both lateral and end walls, while in sieve tubes, the sieve pores are located on the sieve plates.
- Association: Sieve cells are associated with less specialized albuminous cells, while sieve tubes are associated with more specialized companion cells.
- Plant Type: Sieve cells are found in gymnosperms and other seedless vascular plants, while sieve tubes are found only in angiosperms.
- Transport: Sieve tube elements are more specialized for their job as transport cells and can transport more nutrients faster than sieve cells.
In summary, sieve cells and sieve tubes are both involved in the transport of nutrients within plants, but they differ in their structure, arrangement, association with other cells, plant type, and efficiency of nutrient transport.
Comparative Table: Sieve Cells vs Sieve Tubes
Sieve cells and sieve tubes are both components of the phloem tissue in plants, responsible for transporting nutrients. However, they have distinct differences in their structure and function:
| Feature | Sieve Cells | Sieve Tubes |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Found in gymnosperms and other seedless vascular plants | Found only in angiosperms |
| Length | Long, elongated cells | Short, specialized cells |
| Pores | Narrow pores called sieve pores at their ends | Wider pores |
| Sieve Plates | Absent | Present |
| Sieve Pore Location | Sieve pores are scattered all along the wall or even at the end wall | Sieve pores are located on the sieve plates |
| Companion Cells | Associated with albuminous cells | Associated with companion cells |
| Structure | Single cells | Longitudinal arrangements of sieve tube members from end to end |
Sieve cells are less specialized cells found in gymnosperms and seedless vascular plants, while sieve tubes are highly specialized cells found only in angiosperms. Sieve cells have narrow pores and are longer than sieve tubes, which have wider pores and are shorter in length. Sieve tubes have sieve plates with sieve pores, which regulate the size of the opening and control the transport of nutrients. Sieve cells are associated with albuminous cells, while sieve tubes are associated with companion cells for efficient transportation of nutrients.
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