What is the Difference Between Prosenchyma and Pseudoparenchyma

Prosenchyma and pseudoparenchyma are two different types of tissues that are found in certain organisms such as plants, fungi, and algae. They play important roles, such as helping with photosynthesis and mechanical support. However, these tissues have evolved separately.

The key difference prosenchyma and pseudoparenchyma is their location. Prosenchyma is a parenchyma tissue found in green vascular plants while pseudoparenchyma is a tissue that superficially resembles plant parenchyma but is found in some fungi and algae.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Prosenchyma  
3. What is Pseudoparenchyma
4. Similarities – Prosenchyma and Pseudoparenchyma
5. Prosenchyma vs Pseudoparenchyma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Prosenchyma vs Pseudoparenchyma
7. FAQ – Prosenchyma and Pseudoparenchyma

What is Prosenchyma?

Prosenchyma is a type of parenchyma tissue that is found in higher vascular green plants. It is composed of elongated cells. The cells in this type of tissue have a thick cell wall that comprises lignin. Moreover, prosenchyma tissue is responsible for making the plants more rigid and stronger than usual. The cells in the prosenchyma tissue are also known as transfer cells.

Figure 01: Prosenchyma

Prosenchyma tissue has pointed, tapered ends. The cells in the prosenchyma tissue do not possess much protoplasm. Furthermore, prosenchyma tissue is involved in the storage of food in the form of starch. It is found only in certain types of plants, such as Bougainvillea spp.

What is Pseudoparenchyma?

Pseudoparenchyma is a tissue that resembles plant parenchyma but is found in certain fungi and algae. Pseudoparenchyma is made up of an interwoven mass of hyphae or filaments. The cells in pseudoparenchyma may have thicker cell walls compared to typical parenchyma cells.

Figure 02: Pseudoparenchyma

Examples of pseudoparenchyma tissue include fruiting bodies in mushrooms, toadstools, etc, and the thalli of certain red and brown algae. Furthermore, pseudoparenchyma cells are less flexible than true parenchyma cells in plants. Moreover, pseudoparenchyma tissue is primarily involved in providing mechanical support.

Similarities Between Prosenchyma and Pseudoparenchyma

1. Prosenchyma and pseudoparenchyma are two different types of tissues.
2. Pseudoparenchyma superficially resembles plant parenchyma such as prosenchyma.
3. Both these tissues have an evolutionary connection.
4. Both these tissues have specific roles.

Difference Between Prosenchyma and Pseudoparenchyma

Definition

1. Prosenchyma tissue is found in vascular green plants.
2. Pseudoparenchyma tissue is found in certain fungi and algae.

Cell Shape

1. Prosenchyma has elongated cells.
2. Pseudoparenchyma has cells that are isodiametric or oval shape.

Cells are Made by

1. Prosenchyma cells are made by true cell division.
2. Pseudoparenchyma cells are made by fusion the innermost layer of enveloping hyphae.

Function

1. Prosenchyma make plants more rigid and store food in the form of starch.
2. Pseudoparenchyma provide mechanical support to certain fungi and algae.

Examples

1. Prosenchyma is found in plants in Bougainvillea spp.
2. Pseudoparenchyma is found in fruiting bodies in mushrooms, toadstools, etc. and the thalli of certain red and brown algae.

The following table summarizes the difference between prosenchyma and pseudoparenchyma.

Summary – Prosenchyma vs Pseudoparenchyma

Prosenchyma and pseudoparenchyma are two different types of tissues with specific roles. However, prosenchyma is a type of parenchyma tissue found in green vascular plants, while pseudoparenchyma is a tissue that resembles plant parenchyma found in certain fungi and algae. This is the key difference between prosenchyma and pseudoparenchyma.

FAQ: Prosenchyma and Pseudoparenchyma

1. What are the different types of parenchyma?

• Chlorenchyma (parenchyma with chloroplast), vascular parenchyma with vascular tissue, prosenchyma provide strength and rigidity to cells of plants, aerenchyma (mainly found in aquatic plants), epidermis parenchyma (found in some gymnosperms’ epidermis), and conjunctive parenchyma (found in the root system of the plants).

2.What is the parenchyma made up of?

• Parenchyma tissues are made up of thin cell walls made up of cellulose and hemicellulose. The cells of parenchyma are isodiametric or polyhedral in shape. They also may be polygonal, oval, round, or elongated.

3. What is the function of prosenchyma?

• Prosenchyma is responsible for making the plant more rigid. Prosenchyma is also known as a transfer cell. Moreover, it helps storage of food in form of starch.

4. What is a Pseudoparenchyma example?

• Pseudoparenchyma is a tissue that superficially resembles the parenchyma tissue of vascular green plants.  Pseudoparenchyma is made up of an interwoven mass of hyphae as in fungi or filaments as in algae).

5. What is the Pseudoparenchyma of algae?

• Pseudoparenchyma of algae refers to filamentous algae with cells packed very close together to give an appearance of parenchymatous tissue as in plants. However, parenchymatous tissue, being composed of cells, can truly be divided into three dimensions, which is unusual among algae.

Reference:

1. “Pseudoparenchyma.” Oxford Reference.
2. “Prosenchyma.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Image from page 92 of “The elements of botany embracing organography, histology, vegetable physiology, systematic botany and economic botany … ” (1883)” By Internet Archive Book Images (Public Domain) via Flickr
2. “Image from page 500 of “Comparative morphology of Fungi” (1928)” By Internet Archive Book Images (Public Domain) via Flickr

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