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How are plasmodesmata formed during plant cell division?
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Cell wall
Cutaway drawing of a plant cell, showing the cell wall and internal organelles.
During plant cell division, plasmodesmata are formed as the new cell wall, known as the cell plate, develops between the two progeny cells. As this wall forms, traces of the parent cell's endoplasmic reticulum become trapped within the developing structure.21
This process results in microscopic cytoplasmic canals that span the cell wall, effectively connecting the endoplasmic reticula of the adjacent cells. These channels are lined with cell membrane, creating a continuous connection that allows for the direct transport of molecules, such as sugars and amino acids, between cells. By uniting the cytoplasm of adjacent cells, plasmodesmata transform plant tissues into a functional syncytium.21