A cell plate is a structure that forms during the process of cell division in plant cells. It develops in the middle of the dividing cell and is made up of vesicles that contain cell wall materials. As these vesicles fuse together, they create a new barrier that eventually becomes the cell wall separating the two daughter cells.
The formation of the cell plate occurs during cytokinesis, the final stage of the cell cycle. Unlike animal cells, which pinch inwards to divide, plant cells cannot do this due to their rigid cell walls. Instead, the cell plate allows for the proper separation and formation of two distinct cells, ensuring that each new cell has its own cell wall.
