Which of the following is a characteristic of permanent tissue?

The correct answer is Intercellular spaces are present.

Key Points

• The characteristic features of permanent tissue are:
  • Cells have intercellular spaces to keep them separated.
  • The cells may be living or dead, i.e.the protoplasm is either present or absent.
  • Tissue may have only one type of cell or may have different kinds of cells.
  • The cell wall is either cellulosic or along with cellulose other complex carbohydrates may be present.
  • Cells may vary in shape, i.e., either round or oval or polygonal, etc.
  • In the living cells, the cytoplasm is present surrounding a large central vacuole.
  • Cells do not divide at all.

Additional Information

• Types of permanent tissue: 
• Permanent tissues are of three types, namely –
  • (a) Simple tissue, (b) Complex tissue and (c) Secretory tissue.
• ​Simple permanent tissue
  • Simple permanent tissue is composed of a single type of cells that have comparable origin, structure, and function.
• Types of simple permanent tissue
  • Parenchyma – It  provides temporary support and maintains the shape of the plant body. They have thin-walled cells with large vacuoles.
  • Collenchyma – It provides mechanical support and elasticity and flexibility to young dicotyledonous plants. They have thickened cell walls at corners, giving mechanical strength.
  • Sclerenchyma – It provides strength and toughness to plant parts. They have dead cells with extremely thick walls (lignin deposition). Sclerenchyma may be either fibres or sclereids
• Complex permanent tissue
  • Complex permanent tissue is composed of two or more two types of cells and contributes to a general function.
  • They organize together to carry out similar particular functions in the plant body.
  • It is also known as vascular tissue.
• Types of complex tissue:
  • Xylem – The xylem tissue is accountable for the transmission of water and minerals from the roots to the leaves and stems.
  • Phloem – This complex permanent tissue helps in the translocation of food that is prepared by photosynthesis in the leaves to diverse parts of the plant.