Dermal tissue protects the plant and reduces water loss while enabling gas exchange through stomata is primarily the:

Dermal tissue protects the plant and reduces water loss while enabling gas exchange through stomata is primarily the:

• A. Epidermis (plants)
• B. Ground tissue
• C. Vascular tissue
• D. Cortex

Answer: (A)

This question is about the outer protective layer of a plant and how it manages water loss while still allowing gas exchange. The epidermis is the outermost dermal tissue that covers leaves, stems, and young roots. It often has a waxy cuticle that minimizes water loss by reducing evaporation. Stomata—pores formed by specialized epidermal cells called guard cells—are embedded in this layer and regulate gas exchange: carbon dioxide can enter for photosynthesis, oxygen exits, and water vapor can escape. This combination of protection, water conservation, and controlled gas exchange through stomata is what makes the epidermis the best fit for the described functions. Ground tissue handles photosynthesis in internal cells and storage, vascular tissue transports water and nutrients, and the cortex is part of ground tissue located between the epidermis and vascular tissues, not primarily responsible for stomata or water loss control.

This question is about the outer protective layer of a plant and how it manages water loss while still allowing gas exchange. The epidermis is the outermost dermal tissue that covers leaves, stems, and young roots. It often has a waxy cuticle that minimizes water loss by reducing evaporation. Stomata—pores formed by specialized epidermal cells called guard cells—are embedded in this layer and regulate gas exchange: carbon dioxide can enter for photosynthesis, oxygen exits, and water vapor can escape. This combination of protection, water conservation, and controlled gas exchange through stomata is what makes the epidermis the best fit for the described functions. Ground tissue handles photosynthesis in internal cells and storage, vascular tissue transports water and nutrients, and the cortex is part of ground tissue located between the epidermis and vascular tissues, not primarily responsible for stomata or water loss control.