Final answer:
Mitochondria are essential in plant cells as they are the site of cellular respiration, converting glucose into ATP, the cell's main energy-carrying molecule, required for various cellular processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Function of Mitochondria in Plant Cells
The mitochondria in plant cells serve an essential function similar to their role in animal cells. Despite the presence of chloroplasts for photosynthesis in plant cells, mitochondria are crucial for cellular respiration, even in photosynthetic tissue. These organelles are sometimes referred to as the 'powerhouses' or 'energy factories' of the cell because they are responsible for making adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the cell's main energy-carrying molecule.
During cellular respiration, mitochondria convert the chemical energy stored in nutrient molecules, such as glucose, into ATP. This process is vital because ATP represents the short-term stored energy that the cell uses for various activities, including movement and cell division. While plants do produce glucose through photosynthesis in chloroplasts, they still rely on mitochondria to break down this glucose into ATP, needed for all other cellular activities that are not related to photosynthesis.
In summary, mitochondria are found in photosynthetic tissue in plants because they fulfill the critical role of energy conversion, ensuring that energy from glucose is transformed into a usable form (ATP), required for the cell's processes.