noun
- a microscopic channel that connects the cytoplasm of adjacent plant cells, allowing transport of molecules and communication between cells
Usage: biology; botany; plural: plasmodesmata
Examples
- Plant cells communicate through plasmodesmata, which are tiny tunnels in their cell walls.
- The plasmodesm allows nutrients and signaling molecules to move between neighboring cells.
- Scientists study plasmodesmata to understand how plants transport water and minerals throughout their tissues.
- Each plasmodesm is lined with a membrane that controls what substances can pass through.
- The discovery of plasmodesmata revealed that plant cells are more interconnected than previously thought.