Life Processes
Life Processes > Ask Alfie
Hi
What are the differences between companion cells and sieve tubes?
Difference Between Sieve Tubes and Companion Cells
1. Definition: Sieve tubes refer to a series of sieve tube elements placed end to end to form a continuous tube while companion cells refer to a specialized parenchyma cell, located in the phloem of flowering plants and closely associated in development and function with a sieve-tube element. Thus, this is the main difference between sieve tubes and companion cells. 2. Size : Another difference between sieve tubes and companion cells is their size. Sieve tubes are large cells while companion cells are small cells. 3. Sieve Plates: Moreover, sieve tubes contain sieve plates while companion cells do not contain sieve plates. 4. Pores in the Transverse Wall: The transverse wall of sieve tubes contains pores while the transverse wall of companion cells does not contains pores. Hence, this is one other difference between sieve tubes and companion cells. 5. Nucleus and Ribosomes: While companion cells contain a nucleus and a large number of ribosomes, sieve tubes do not. 6. Amount Mitochondria: Moreover, sieve tubes contain fewer mitochondria while companion cells contain a higher number of mitochondria. 7. Metabolic Activity: Metabolic activity is also a difference between sieve tubes and companion cells. The former shows low metabolic activity while the latter shows high metabolic activity. 8. Function: Sieve tubes are responsible for the transport of food throughout the plant body while companion cells are responsible for regulating the activity of the sieve element.
1. Definition: Sieve tubes refer to a series of sieve tube elements placed end to end to form a continuous tube while companion cells refer to a specialized parenchyma cell, located in the phloem of flowering plants and closely associated in development and function with a sieve-tube element. Thus, this is the main difference between sieve tubes and companion cells. 2. Size : Another difference between sieve tubes and companion cells is their size. Sieve tubes are large cells while companion cells are small cells. 3. Sieve Plates: Moreover, sieve tubes contain sieve plates while companion cells do not contain sieve plates. 4. Pores in the Transverse Wall: The transverse wall of sieve tubes contains pores while the transverse wall of companion cells does not contains pores. Hence, this is one other difference between sieve tubes and companion cells. 5. Nucleus and Ribosomes: While companion cells contain a nucleus and a large number of ribosomes, sieve tubes do not. 6. Amount Mitochondria: Moreover, sieve tubes contain fewer mitochondria while companion cells contain a higher number of mitochondria. 7. Metabolic Activity: Metabolic activity is also a difference between sieve tubes and companion cells. The former shows low metabolic activity while the latter shows high metabolic activity. 8. Function: Sieve tubes are responsible for the transport of food throughout the plant body while companion cells are responsible for regulating the activity of the sieve element.
Some of the learners also asked:
How is food transported in plants?
How is food transported in plants?
