Detailed Summary
Differentiation in plants is the process where cells mature to perform specific functions, e.g., root cells develop different structures compared to leaf cells. During this process, cells may undergo significant structural changes in their walls and protoplasm. An example is the formation of tracheary elements that develop strong, elastic lignocellulosic walls for water transport.
Dedifferentiation allows living differentiated cells to regain the ability to divide, forming meristems like the interfascicular and cork cambium from parenchyma cells. This is crucial for specific growth and repair processes.
Redifferentiation occurs when these dedifferentiated cells mature again to perform specialized functions. Demarcating tissue types in some woody dicotyledonous plants illustrates redifferentiation outcomes.
Moreover, differentiation in plants is described as open, meaning that cells from the same meristem can develop into various specialized structures depending on their location. For example, the cells closer to the root apical meristem become root cap cells, while those at the periphery evolve into epidermis.
This section underlines the critical significance of these processes—differentiation, dedifferentiation, and redifferentiation—in maintaining plant growth and development, revealing how intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence these transformations.