Plant Cell

• Plant cell — cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, large vacuole, chloroplasts.
• Cell wall — cellulose; gives shape and protection.
• Chloroplasts — green plastids; photosynthesis.
• Observe onion peel / Hydrilla leaf cells under microscope.

1. Cell wall — rigid outer layer outside membrane; made of cellulose.
2. Chloroplast — contains chlorophyll; captures light → food (glucose).
3. Large vacuole — sap storage; maintains turgor pressure.
4. Plastids — chloroplasts (green), chromoplasts (coloured), leucoplasts (storage).
5. Diagram (text) — rectangular plant cell with cell wall, chloroplasts, big vacuole.
6. Real world — why plant cells feel rigid; grass green due to chloroplasts.

Preparing onion peel slide (NCERT)

Step 1 — Peel thin layer from onion bulb scale.
Step 2 — Place on slide with drop of water.
Step 3 — Stain with iodine — nucleus visible.
Step 4 — Observe cell wall, cytoplasm, nucleus; no chloroplast in onion storage cells.

• Expecting chloroplasts in onion peel (storage tissue — no chloroplast).
• Misconception: plant cells have no nucleus (they do).
• Confusing cell wall material with chlorophyll.
• Breaking cover slip by pressing too hard on peel.

• List structures found in plant cell but not animal cell.
• Function of chloroplast and vacuole.
• What is cell wall made of?

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Plant Cell.