Question

______ act as elastic buffers between guard cell and epidermal cells.

• A. Bandel sheath cell
• B. Mesophyll cells
• C. Stomatal hair
• D. Subsidiary cells

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Subsidiary cells

Subsidiary cells act as elastic buffers between guard cells and epidermal cells.

These are specialized epidermal cells that surround and support the guard cells of a stoma.

Their primary function is to provide a mechanical advantage, facilitating the rapid movements of the guard cells as they open and close the stomatal pore. They also serve as a reservoir for water and ions, which are crucial for the changes in turgor pressure that drive stomatal movement. This elastic buffer system is vital for efficient gas exchange and water regulation in plants.