Spark
Loading...

Water and Nutrient Transport (Xylem, Phloem)

← Builds on Photosynthesis and Plant Biochemistry Fundamentals

Terms you will need

  • xylemXylem is a type of plant tissue that carries water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant. It is made up of dead cells that form a strong, hollow structure.
  • phloemPhloem is a type of plant tissue that transports sugars and other nutrients made during photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant. It is made up of living cells that work together to move these nutrients.
  • transpirationTranspiration is the process by which water evaporates from the leaves of a plant, mainly through small openings called stomata. This helps to move water and nutrients up through the plant.
  • stomataStomata are tiny openings on the surface of leaves that allow for the exchange of gases, such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, and also help in the process of transpiration.
  • mesophyllMesophyll is the inner tissue of a leaf where most of the photosynthesis happens. It is made up of two types of cells: palisade cells, which are tightly packed and good at absorbing light, and spongy cells, which are loosely packed and help with gas exchange.
  • vascular tissueVascular tissue is a complex tissue in plants that includes xylem and phloem. It is responsible for transporting water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant.

How this topic runs

  1. 1Start here
  2. 2How it works
  3. 3At competition depth

Water and nutrient transport in plants is essential for their survival and growth. This process involves two specialized tissues: xylem and phloem. Xylem is responsible for transporting water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant, while phloem transports sugars and other organic nutrients produced during photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant. These transport systems ensure that all cells receive the necessary resources to function properly. Understanding how xylem and phloem work is crucial for grasping how plants sustain themselves and respond to their environment.

Figures (10)

Xylem (blue) transports water and minerals from the roots upwards.
Diagrammatic structure of xylem cells
A diagram showing the setup of a pressure bomb
Patterns of xylem development: xylem in brown; arrows show direction of development from protoxylem to metaxylem.
Cross-section of a flax plant stem: PithProtoxylemMetaxylemPhloemSclerenchyma (bast fibre)CortexEpidermis
Cross section of some phloem cells
Simplified phloem and companion cells: XylemPhloemCambiumPithCompanion cells
The process of translocation within the phloem
Photos showing xylem elements in the shoot of a fig tree (Ficus alba): crushed in hydrochloric acid, between slides and cover slips
Stripping the inner bark from a pine branch

It is made of dead cells that form long, hollow tubes. Phloem moves sugars made in the leaves to other parts of the plant. Phloem cells are alive and work together to transport these sugars both up and down the plant.

Together, xylem and phloem form the vascular system, which is like the plant’s circulatory system. This system makes sure every part of the plant gets what it needs to grow and survive. You can picture xylem as one-way pipes that carry water upward and phloem as two-way highways for sugars.

Key Points

  • Xylem is a vascular tissue in plants that transports water and provides mechanical support.
  • Phloem is a vascular tissue in plants that transports sugars and provides mechanical support.
  • Stomata are small pores on the surface of leaves, surrounded by guard cells, that facilitate gas exchange and transpiration in plants.

Terms

Tap a term for a plain-language explanation.

Sources & licensing(4)