Unit 2 Bio LAB2

Travis Johnson BIOLOGY Mr.
Beeput
LAB # 2
TITLE: PHOTOSYNTHESIS- LEAF STRUCTURE
AIM: to observe and draw the internal structure of a dicotyledonous leaf.
APPARATUS/ MATERIALS: Light microscope, prepared slide of transverse section of a
dicot leaf, pencil, paper, ruler.
METHOD:
1) A light microscope was set up and a slide of the transverse section of a
dicotyledonous leaf was positioned on the stage
2) The slide was observed and the different layers of the leaf were indentified, the
shapes of the cells were closely paid attention to
3) A plan drawing of the of the transverse section of the leaf was made at x10
objective
4) A detailed drawing of a palisade cell was made at x40 objective

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Upper Epidermis is the uppermost layer or adaxial layer of a dicot leaf. It is a single
layered tissue made of cubical cells and arranged closely, with no inter cellular spaces in
between them. Chloroplasts cannot be seen in these cells. Upper epidermis on its outer
surface is covered by a thin cuticle. The cuticle present on the upper epidermis is
comparatively thicker than the lower epidermis. Thick cuticle is mainly meant to check the
loss of water through the surface of the leaf. On the upper epidermis less number of stomata
is present when compared to the lower epidermis in a dicot leaf. Presence of less number of
stomata on the upper surface is an adaptation to reduce the loss of water through
transpiration. Mesophyll is a ground tissue present in between upper epidermis and lower
epidermis. It consists of two tissues- Palisade parenchyma and Spongy parenchyma. Palisade
parenchyma is present just below the upper epidermis. This tissue is present in one or two
layers. The cells of palisade parenchyma are very much elongated and columnar in nature.
The cells are closely packed in each layer with narrow inter cellular spaces in between them.
The cells of this layer internally include more number of chloroplasts in them. As
chloroplasts are more in number in these layers, chlorophyll pigment present also will be
more. Due this only, the upper surface of a dicot leaf will be greener in nature when
compared to the lower surface. In between the palisade parenmchyma and lower epidermis,
spongy parenchyma is present. The cells of spongy parenchyma are small in size and
irregular in shape. The cells of spongy parenchyma are loosely arranged with lot of large
intercellular spaces in between them. The cells of spongy parenchyma are with less number
of chloroplasts and less quantity of chlorophyll. Due to this only, the lower surface of a dicot
leaf will be less green in color when compared to upper surface. As the mesophyll tissue i.e.
both palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma include chloroplast as well as chlorophyll
concerned with food preparing process photosynthesis. Vascular bundles are present within
the mesophyll tissue. They represent the midrib and veins of a leaf. Each vascular bundle
consists of xylem and phloem complex tissues surrounded by bundle sheath. Xylem tissue of
a vascular bundle is present towards the upper epidermis of the leaf. Xylem complex
Travis Johnson BIOLOGY Mr. Beeput
permanent tissue consists of xylem tracheids, xylem vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem
fibers. Xylem in a vascular bundle is concerned with transport of water and minerals. Phloem
complex tissue is present towards the lower epidermal surface of the leaf. Phloem complex
permanent tissue is made of sieve tubes and sieve pores, companion cells, phloem
parenchyma and phloem fibers. Phloem tissue in a leaf is concerned with transport of food
materials. In the vascular bundle both xylem and phloem are covered on its outer surface
by bundle sheath layer.The bundle sheath layer is made of single layered thin walled
parenchymatous cells. The cells in the bundle sheath contain chloroplasts and hence this layer
is also concerned with photosynthesis. In old leaves sclerenchymatous extension can be seen
from this layer towards upper and lower epidermis. Vascular bundles in dicot leaf are
described as conjoint, collateral and closed. As xylem and phloem are present on the same
radius, the vascular bundle is described as conjoint and collateral. The vascular bundle is
described as closed as there is no cambium present between xylem and phloem. Vascular
bundles help in transport of water, minerals and food in the leaf. Vascular bundles also
provide strength to the leaf. Below the spongy parenchyma a single layer of epidermis is
present. This layer is the Lower Epidermis is present on the abaxial surface of the leaf. The
cells are cubical in shape and are arranged very closely without any inter cellular spaces.
Many stomata are present on the lower surface of the leaf in comparison to the upper surface
of the leaf. These stomata open during time which allows exchange of gases through
diffusion and the escape of water vapor. Just above the stomata on the lower surface of the
epidermis air cavity or sub-stomatal chamber is present. This air cavity acts as a store house
of carbon dioxide or water vapor till they diffuse.
RESULTS:

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