Transportation in Plants

 
We will learn about the vascular tissues,transport of water and mineral salts,translocation and phytoremediation.
 

4.1 Vascular Tissues

 
The necessity of transport in plants:

 
Transport water and mineral salts to carry out photosynthesis and growth
Transport photosynthetic products to other parts of plants
Transport water for plant cell turgidity and for support
Transports organic acids in plants
Transport phytohormones in plants for response
Transports water in plants for cooling

 
Transport in plants is carried out by vascular tissues which consist of :

1. Xylem tissue: transport water and mineral salts from roots to shoots
2. Phloem tissue: transport photosynthetic product and other organic substances from shoots to other parts

The xylem tissue contains xylem vessel and tracheid as the main transport vessels,whereas the phloem tissue contains sieve tube and
companion cell as the main transport vessels

 
The simillarities between xylem tissue and phloem tissue:

 
As vascular tissue
Trasnport substance in plants
Have parenchyma cell and fibres within the vascular tissue

 
The differences between xylem tissue and phloem tissue:

 
 
  Xylem Tissue
Main cell type  Xylem vessel & tracheid
Lignified wall Lignified in the form of annular, spiral, scalariform, reticular and pit 
Death cells and cell contents degenerated
Cells form a long and hollow vessel 
Condition of the cell after mature Have plate or nnote for the flow of water & mineral 
Have pits for the glow of water and minerals laterally

Materials transported Water, minerals, salt & phytojhormones

Transport water and mineral in plants
Main function Provide mechanical support to plants

 
 
  Phloem Tissue
Main cell type  Sieve elemetns & companion cell
Lignified wall  Unlignified
Living vells with degenerated organelles
Cells form a  long tube filled with cytoplasm
Condition of the cell after mature
Have sieve tubes for the flow of organic substance

Materials transported Sucrose, amino acid, organic acid, phytohormones & water 
Transport sucrose and other organic substances
Main function

4.2 Transport of Water and Mineral Salts

 
Water and mineral salts can be transported from soil to leaves or shoots by root pressure,capillary action and transpirational pull.

 
 Root pressure 
 
 
Force created in root due to the presence of endodermis
Endodermal cells transport mineral salts actively from cortex to vascular tissues of root
This produces a concentration  gradient between cortex and vascular tissue
Water diffuses from cortex to vascular tissue across the endodermis
Root pressure is created by pushing water up to stem

 
Capillary action 
 
 
Created by adhesion force and cohesion force of water in fine xylem vessels

 
Transpitational pull
 
 
In leaf,water always evaporates from spongy mesophyll cells to leaves and finally to atmosphere via stomata
This process is known as transpiration
This creates a force which transport water and mineral salts from root xylem up to leaf continuously due to cohesive and
adhesive forces of water
Transpirational pull is the main force in transportation of water and mineral salts 

 
 
Guttation

 
1. Guttation is the process of removing water slowly in the form of droplets through hydatod at the margin of the leaf
2. Guttation occurs at night where the rate of transpiration is low and the relative air humidity is high
3. Root hair is the main force in guttation
4. This phenomenon can be observed at the leaf margin of herbaecious plant
5. If the plants do not undergo transpiration and guttation:

Water and mineral salts cannot be trasnported from root to shoot

The rate of photosynthesis is low due to deficiency of water
Growth of plant is retarded because lack of mineral salts
Cooling effect of plant is low

 
Guttation   Transpiration
Occurs at night Transport of water and mineral salts Occurs all day
Through hydotod Involves xylem Through stomata
In the form of water droplets Root pressure In the form of water vapour
 

4.3 Translocation

 
 
1. Translocation is a transport process of organic substances and other photosynthetic product from a product source to other parts of
plant via phloem
2. The necessity of translocation in plants:

Transport sucrose,a photosynthetic product from leaves to other parts of plant for metabolism and storage
Transport other organic substances such as amino acids and other organic acids from shoots to other parts of plant for metabolism and
storage

Source:[Text Book Biology KSSM Form 5]

 
Pathway of translocation:

1. Mesophyll cells
2. Companion cell
3. Sieve tube
4. Leaf phloem
5. Stem phloem
6. Cells of roots,stem,other shoots,flower and fruit

 
Mesophyll cells have chloroplast and carry out photosynthesis:

Photosynthetic products are transported actively into sieve tube by companion cell
The accumulation organic substances in phloem increases the concentration gradient,then water diffuses from surrounding into phloem
Hydrostatic pressure generated transports organic substances to other parts
At other parts of plant such as root,the organic substances in phloem are transported actively into root cell for metabolism and storage.

4.4 Phytoremediation

 
1. Phytoremediation is the use of plants to extract or remove toxic substances in soil which can cause pollution
2. Examples of toxic substances :

Heavy metals such as cadmium,mercury,copper,lead,zinc and arsenic are poisonous to most of the plants and underground animals
Carbon monoxide gas and cigarette smoke are harmful to humans

 
Example of plant Polluted agents
Sunflower Heavy metals,radioactive metals
Centella asiatica Zinc,copper,lead
Sarcotheca celebia Nickel
Dracaena trifasciata Carbon monoxide,nicotine,radiation
 
Types of phytoremediation:

Phytostabilisation
Phytofiltration
Phtoaccumulation
Phytoextraction

 
Phytoremediation can be used to overcome environmental issues such as:

Water pollution by organic substances

Soil pollution by heavy metals
Air (radioactive) pollution

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