Because plant cells have a cell wall, cytokinesis shows significant differences compared with the process in animals cells. Rather than forming a contractile ring, plant cells construct a cell plate in the middle of the cell. The cell plate begins as a fusion tube network, which then becomes a tubulo-vesicular network (TVN) as more components are added. The TVN develops into a tubular network, which then becomes a fenestrated sheet which adheres to the existing plasma membrane.

During cytokinesis in an animal cell, a contractile ring forms in the center of the dividing cell. The contractile ring contracts, pulling the cell membrane inward. Eventually, the cell is pinched into two daughter cells. In a plant cell, the cell wall prevents the cell membrane from being pulled inward. A structure called a cell plate grows between the two new nuclei. The cell plate develops into a membrane and eventually becomes part of the cell wall of each of the new cells.

The two daughter cells are now completely separated. Each is surrounded by a cell membrane. Each daughter cell has some of its parent cell’s cytoplasm. Though daughter cells are genetically identical to their parent cell, they are smaller. After division, cells may enter a period of growth, during which they take in the resources they need to increase the amount of their cytoplasm and to grow to full size. When the cells are fully grown, they are about the same size as the parent cell was before division.

The term cell growth is used in two different ways in biology.

When used in the context of reproduction of living cells the phrase “cell growth” is shorthand for the idea of “growth in cell populations by means of cell reproduction.” During cell reproduction one cell (the “parental” cell) divides to produce two daughter cells.

In other contexts, “cell growth” refers to increases in cell size.