Which one among the following is living and non-nucleated at maturity

Which one among the following is living and non-nucleated at maturity ?

Sieve tubes
Companion cells
Collenchyma
Parenchyma
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
A
Sieve tubes are component cells of the phloem, responsible for the transport of sugars. At functional maturity, sieve tube elements are living cells but have lost their nucleus, vacuole, and other major organelles. They rely on associated companion cells for metabolic support. Companion cells, collenchyma, and parenchyma are all living and nucleated at maturity.
The absence of a nucleus and other organelles in mature sieve tube elements allows for efficient transport of phloem sap. Despite lacking a nucleus, they are considered living because they maintain a functioning plasma membrane and some cytoplasmic components, supported by the companion cells which are connected to them via plasmodesmata.
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