Transport in Plants

Specific objectives: Identify the substances that are transported in plants

Describe how roots are adapted for taking in water;

Identify the location of transport tissues in a dicotyledonous plant stem and root
sections;

Describe the basic functions of the xylem and the phloem

Describe the movement of water from the soil to the leaves.

Investigate the movement of water from the soil to the leaves

Plant roots
Water is absorbed from the soil mainly through root hairs. Each root hair is a long narrow extension
of a single epidermal cell that grows out into the gaps between soil particles. Root hairs are
numerous just behind the tips of the root. Root hairs are important because they increase the
surface area for absorbing water and minerals.

T.S. DICOT ROOT

OR
Transverse section of a plant rootTransverse section of a stem

Water enters the root hairs by osmosis because there is more water in the soil water than inside the
root cells. Most mineral salts enter the root against their concentration gradient by active transport,
a process that uses energy.

From the root hairs to the xylem.

Water passes from the epidermal layer of the root, across the cortex and into the xylem vessels by
osmosis. (A gradient is set up between the xylem and the root hair cells because) water is
continuously entering these cells from the soil while the cells next to the xylem are continuously
losing water as it passes into the xylem vessels.

MOVEMENT OF WATER ACROSS THE ROOT CORTEX

XYLEM and PHLOEM STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

The xylem transports water and water-soluble minerals from the soil upwards to the different parts
of the plant.

The phloem transports glucose, proteins and other organic chemicals within the plant. These are
foods manufactured during photosynthesis.

Xylem vessels are long, narrow, hollow tubes that are non-living. The walls of the xylem are
strengthened with a hard substance called lignin.

DIAGRAM OF XYLEM VESSELS and PHLOEM TUBES

 TABLE: DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTION OF XYLEM VESSELS

Structure Function
Cells are dead and have no contents Allow water to flow freely
Vessels have no cross walls
Vessels are made of elongated narrow
elements
Lignified walls Able to withstand suction pressures without
collapsing;
Supports stems and leaves

PHLOEM

Is a living tissue and has no lignin in the cell walls. Phloem tubes are also made up of cells joined end
to end. However these end walls do not break down completely. Instead, they form sieve plates,
which have small holes in them. The cells are called sieve tube elements. Sieve tube elements
contain cytoplasm, but no nucleus.

Each sieve tube element has a companion cell next to it. The companion cell has a nucleus which
probably controls both cells; and also contains many other organelles. Companion cells supply sieve
tube elements with some of their requirements.

REMEMBER: Food manufactured during photosynthesis is transported in the phloem.

PHLOEM SIEVE TUBES AND COMPANION CELL

MOVEMENT OF WATER THROUGH A PLANT
Up the xylem and through the leaves to the air

Water moves up the xylem vessels because of transpiration. Transpiration is the evaporation of
water from the plant, mostly from the leaves.

There are openings on the surface of the leaf called stomata. There are usually more stomata in the
lower epidermis. The cells inside the leaf are each covered with a thin film of moisture so that
gaseous exchange can take place.

Some of this film of moisture evaporates from the cells, and diffuses out of the leaf through the
stomata. Water from the xylem vessels in the leaf will travel to the cells by osmosis to replace it.

Water is constantly being taken up from the top of the xylem vessels, to supply the cells in the
leaves.
Conditions that affect transpiration rate.
Temperature: On a hot day, water will evaporate quickly from the leaves of a plant. Transpiration
increases as temperature increases.

Humidity: humidity means the moisture content of the air. The higher the humidity, the less water
will evaporate from the leaves. Transpiration decreases as humidity increases.

Wind speed. On a windy day, water evaporates more quickly than on a still day. Transpiration
increases as wind speed increases.

Light intensity: In bright sunlight, a plant may open its stomata to supply plenty of carbon dioxide
for photosynthesis. More water can therefore evaporate from the leaves.

Water supply

If water is in short supply, then the plant will close its stomata. This will cut down the rate of
transpiration. Transpiration decreases when water supply decreases below a certain level.

Transpiration is useful to plants because it keeps water moving up the xylem vessels and
evaporation helps to cool the leaves. But if the leaves lose too much water, the roots may not be
able to take up enough to replace it. If this happens the plants wilts.