Final answer:
The pith in the parenchyma serves primarily for the storage of nutrients like starches, and is part of the ground tissue that contributes to basic metabolic functions in a plant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the pith in the parenchyma is A) Storage of nutrients. The pith is a part of the ground tissue found inside the stem and root of a plant. Compared to stems, roots have a substantial amount of cortex and relatively little pith, but both regions include cells that store products from photosynthesis, like starches.
Parenchyma cells are the most common plant cells and are versatile in function. They are involved in several metabolic processes, including photosynthesis, healing and wound repair, storage of nutrients, and support.
In the context of the related question, when a celery stick is soaked in water with food dye, the colored tough fibers showcase the presence of vascular tissue, specifically xylem, which is responsible for transporting water and minerals throughout the plant, rather than pith parenchyma cells.
Parenchyma cells are responsible for metabolic functions such as photosynthesis and they also help repair and heal wounds. Additionally, some parenchyma cells store starch.