Consider the following statements in relation to plant tissue ‘chlorenchyma: 1. It formed by the palisade and spongy mesophyll. 2. It is a form of parenchyma which contains chloroplasts. 3. It serves to transport organic solutes made by photo-synthesis. 4. It is a thin transparent layer which has chiefly a protective function. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Chlorenchyma is a specialized form of parenchyma tissue that contains chloroplasts and is primarily responsible for photosynthesis. In the leaf, it is organized into the mesophyll, which consists of two distinct layers: the palisade mesophyll (tightly packed, columnar cells) and the spongy mesophyll (loosely arranged cells with air spaces) [5]. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because the transport of organic solutes (photosynthates) is the specific function of the phloem, not chlorenchyma [3]. Statement 4 is also incorrect as it describes the epidermis or cuticle, which are thin, transparent protective layers, whereas chlorenchyma is internal ground tissue [5].

Sources

1. [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_tissue
2. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/chlorenchyma
3. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > Transport of food and other substances > p. 95