What is the answer to the Tissue Systems NEET 2026 matching question?
The Tissue Systems NEET 2026 answer is option C, numbered (3): A–III, B–IV, C–I, D–II. This Biology question belongs to Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants. The question bank tags it medium and gives an expected solving time of 60 seconds, not an official time limit.
Pair each plant-anatomy term with its identifying description. Cover the answer above to attempt all four matches independently.
List-I: terms
List-II: descriptions
- I: Specialised cells neighbouring guard cells
- II: Starch-abundant cells of the endodermis
- III: Tissue occupying the region between xylem and phloem
- IV: Endodermal cells bearing suberin deposits in their walls
Answer options
- Option A (1): A–IV/B–III/C–I/D–II
- Option B (2): A–III/B–IV/C–II/D–I
- Option C (3): A–III/B–IV/C–I/D–II
- Option D (4): A–IV/B–III/C–II/D–I
List-I letters identify terms; option letters identify complete answers. Check the full sequence, not just a matching letter.
How do you establish all four matches?
Match each term by its defining feature: location, deposited material, neighbouring cells or starch content. Endodermal alone cannot distinguish Casparian strips from starch sheath; suberin deposition identifies the former, while starch content identifies the latter.
Step 1: Match conjunctive tissue.
Conjunctive tissue occupies the space between xylem and phloem. Description III gives this location, so A–III is established. The clue is its position between the conducting tissues, not a deposited or stored substance.
Step 2: Match Casparian strips.
Casparian strips are suberin depositions in endodermal cell walls. Description IV identifies both the cells and the deposited material, giving B–IV. The decisive clue is suberin in the wall, not simply the presence of endodermal cells.
Step 3: Match subsidiary cells.
Subsidiary cells are specialised cells near guard cells. Their association with guard cells identifies description I, so C–I. They are neighbouring cells, not another name for the guard cells themselves.
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Step 4: Match starch sheath.
Starch sheath denotes the endodermis with starch-rich cells. Description II therefore gives D–II. Starch content identifies this description; suberin deposition identifies Casparian strips.
The independently justified sequence is A–III, B–IV, C–I, D–II. Comparing all four pairs with the choices gives correct answer: option C, numbered (3). List-I C refers only to subsidiary cells.
Four-entry check
- Conjunctive tissue: between xylem and phloem → III
- Casparian strips: suberin deposited in endodermal walls → IV
- Subsidiary cells: specialised guard-cell neighbours → I
- Starch sheath: starch-rich endodermis → II
Why is option B wrong even though its first two matches are correct?
Option B (2): A–III, B–IV, C–II, D–I gets conjunctive tissue and Casparian strips right but swaps subsidiary cells and starch sheath. The method error is accepting two verified matches, then assigning the remaining descriptions without checking their defining features.
- C–II fails: subsidiary cells are identified by their association with guard cells, not by starch-rich endodermis.
- D–I fails: starch sheath identifies starch-rich endodermal cells, not cells beside guard cells.
Under the standard NEET single-correct marking scheme, correct option C earns four marks, while wrong option B earns minus one. The difference is:
There is no partial credit for two correct pairs in a single-correct question. Independently verify both remaining terms before selecting the complete sequence.
Which substances identify Casparian strips and starch sheath?
Suberin identifies Casparian strips; starch identifies starch sheath. This and the next two questions are original same-chapter practice, not additional verified NEET PYQs.
Which pair gives the wall-deposited material of Casparian strips and the stored substance of starch sheath, respectively? Select one answer.
Answer: B. Suberin is deposited in the relevant endodermal walls; starch-rich endodermal cells give starch sheath its name. Their shared endodermal association does not make these features interchangeable.
What are the specialised cells neighbouring guard cells called?
They are subsidiary cells, distinct from the guard cells themselves. This original same-chapter practice question asks you to name the specialised epidermal cells immediately neighbouring guard cells. Select the term that fits this location.
Answer: A. “Neighbouring guard cells” identifies subsidiary cells. The rejected terms identify different structures:
- Conjunctive tissue: lies between xylem and phloem.
- Starch sheath: starch-rich endodermis.
- Xylem vessels: conducting elements, not the specialised cells beside guard cells.
Which tissue lies between xylem and phloem in a root?
Conjunctive tissue occupies the regions between these two conducting tissues. For this original same-chapter practice question, select the tissue that fits that root location.
Answer: B. Location is decisive:
- Epidermis: outer covering.
- Endodermis: associated here with suberin deposits or starch-rich cells.
- Subsidiary cells: neighbours of guard cells.
Retrieval check: between conducting tissues means conjunctive tissue; suberin means Casparian strips; guard-cell neighbours means subsidiary cells; starch-rich endodermis means starch sheath.
Next step: the past-paper archive on NEET JEEnius AI and search past NEET papers by year, subject or chapter, each with a worked solution (100 free searches a month).
Related on NEET JEEnius AI: Sigma and Pi Bonds NEET 2026: Vitamin Record Mismatch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to the Tissue Systems NEET 2026 matching question?
The correct answer is option C, numbered (3): A–III, B–IV, C–I, D–II. Conjunctive tissue matches III, Casparian strips match IV, subsidiary cells match I, and starch sheath matches II.
Why is option B wrong in the tissue systems matching question?
Option B correctly matches conjunctive tissue and Casparian strips but swaps subsidiary cells and starch sheath. Subsidiary cells match guard-cell neighbours, while starch sheath matches starch-rich endodermis. A single-correct question gives no partial credit for two correct pairs.
What is the difference between Casparian strips and starch sheath?
Casparian strips are identified by suberin deposits in endodermal cell walls. Starch sheath denotes the endodermis with starch-rich cells. Their shared endodermal association is not enough to distinguish them; check the substance named.
Are subsidiary cells the same as guard cells?
No, subsidiary cells are specialised cells neighbouring guard cells. They are distinct from the guard cells themselves, so the clue 'neighbouring guard cells' identifies subsidiary cells.
Which tissue lies between xylem and phloem in a root?
Conjunctive tissue occupies the regions between xylem and phloem in a root. Its location between the conducting tissues is the identifying clue in this matching question.