Transport in Plants

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YOUR NOTES
A Level Biology CIE 
7.1 Structure of Transport Tissues
CONTENTS
7.1.1 Plant Transverse Sections
7.1.2 Xylem & Phloem Distribution
7.1.3 Xylem Vessels Elements
7.1.4 Phloem Sieve Tube Elements
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7.1.1 Plant Transverse Sections YOUR NOTES


Transverse Sections: Stems, Roots & Leaves
Dicotyledonous (dicots) plants
Dicotyledonous (dicots) plants have:
Seeds that contain two cotyledons (seed leaves)
Network of veins
Leaves that typically have broad blades (leaf surface) and petioles (stalks)
Tap root with lateral branches
Herbaceous dicots have a relatively short life cycle (one growing season) and non-woody
tissue
Transport systems
Plants need transport systems to meet their metabolic demands (glucose, hormones,
mineral ions are required for various processes within plants), to efficiently move
substances up and down, e.g.
Glucose from photosynthesis needs to be transported to parts of the plant that
cannot photosynthesise
Water from the roots needs to be transported to the upper parts of a plant
Plants may store glucose in storage organs, e.g. tubers, and need to release this
glucose and transport it to metabolically active parts of the plant
Plants consist of many layers of cells and so cannot rely on diffusion from cell to cell to
supply all their needs, as this would be too slow
Plants have a vascular system which involves a network of vessels (vascular tissue)
running through the leaves, stem and roots. These three parts are the main organs involved
in transport
Xylem transports water and mineral ions from the roots to the rest of the plant
Phloem transports substances from the source (e.g. a leaf) to the sink (e.g. root)The
vascular system is comprised of two distinct types:
The xylem and phloem are arranged together in vascular bundles
The bundles are laid out differently in the leaves, stem and roots
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YOUR NOTES

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YOUR NOTES

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YOUR NOTES

Tissue plan diagrams of a dicotyledonous leaf, stem and root
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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

Step 1: Calculate the 1 eyepiece graticule unit

1 eyepiece graticule unit = 0.1 divided by 40 = 0.0025 mm
Step 2: Convert the answer to measurement with the unit most suitable for use in light
microscopy
0.0025 multiplied by 1000 = 2.5 µm
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YOUR NOTES
 Worked Example

Step 1: Calculate the number of divisions between X and Y

There are 80 divisions between X and Y
Step 2: Calculate the value of each division
As each division is equal to 2.5 µm
Step 3: Calculate the actual width
80 x 2.5 = 200 µm
Page 7 of 18
Exam Tip YOUR NOTES

 When drawing tissue plan diagrams (which is common in the practical paper 3) you

need to:
Read the instructions carefully
Draw a large diagram
Use a sharp pencil and do not shade (including the nucleus)
Use clear, continuous lines
When using an eye-piece graticule, use it to ensure you have correct
proportions or if you are not using a microscope then endeavour to keep the
proportions between tissues to scale
If drawing from a low-power image:
Do not draw individual cells
Read the question carefully as you may only have to draw a portion of the
image
Include the magnification on the drawing
If drawing from a high-power image:
Draw only a few of the required cells
Draw the cell wall of the plant cells
Include the magnification on the drawing
When labelling, remember:
Use a ruler for label lines (and scale line if appropriate)
Label-lines should stop exactly at the structure (do not use arrows)
Don't cross label-lines over each other
Label all tissues and relevant structures (those requested)
Page 8 of 18
7.1.2 Xylem & Phloem Distribution YOUR NOTES


Xylem & Phloem Distribution
Xylem
The functions of xylem tissue in a plant are:
Vascular tissue that carries dissolved minerals and water up the plant
Structural support
Food storage
Xylem tissue is found, along with phloem tissue and other tissues, in vascular bundles
The location of the vascular bundles is dependent on which organ they are in as the
different organs are under different stresses:
In the roots the vascular bundle is found in the centre and the centre core of this is
xylem tissue. This helps the roots withstand the pulling strains they are subjected to as
the plant transports water upwards and grows
In the stems the vascular bundles are located around the outside and the xylem tissue
is found on the inside (closest to the centre of the stem) to help support the plant
In the leaves the vascular bundles form the midrib and veins and therefore spread from
the centre of the leaf in a parallel line. The xylem tissue is found on the upper side of
the bundles (closest to the upper epidermis)
Phloem
The function of phloem tissue in a plant is to:
Transport organic compounds, particularly sucrose, from the source (eg. leaf) to the
sink (eg. roots). The transport of these compounds can occur up and down the plant
Phloem is a complex tissue also made up of various cell types; its bulk is made up of sieve
tube elements which are the main conducting cells and the companion cells
Other cell types of phloem tissue also include parenchyma for storage and strengthening
fibres
The location of the vascular bundles is dependent on which organ they are in as the
different organs are under different stresses:
In the roots the vascular bundle is found in the centre and on the edges of the centre
core is the phloem tissue
In the stems, the vascular bundles are located around the outside and the phloem
tissue is found on the outside (closest to the epidermis)
In the leaves, the vascular bundles form the midrib and veins and therefore spread
from the centre of the leaf in a parallel line. The phloem tissue is found on the lower
side of the bundles (closest to the lower epidermis)
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YOUR NOTES

The distribution of xylem and phloem tissue in the roots, stem and leaves in a herbaceous
dicotyledonous plant
 Exam Tip
In roots and stem, the xylem tissue is found on the inside – however, in leaves, xylem
is found above phloem tissue.
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7.1.3 Xylem Vessels Elements YOUR NOTES


Xylem Vessel Elements: Structure & Function
The functions of xylem tissue in a plant are:
Vascular tissue that transports dissolved minerals and water around the plant
Structural support
Food storage
Xylem tissue is made up of four cell types that function together:
1. Tracheids (long, narrow tapered cells with pits)
2. Vessel elements (large with thickened cell walls and no end plates when mature)
3. Xylem parenchyma
4. Sclerenchyma cells (fibres and sclereids)
Most of the xylem tissue is made up of tracheids and vessel elements, which are both
types of water-conducting cell
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YOUR NOTES

Images of xylem vessel elements, (a) photomicrograph in longitudinal section (lignin is

stained red), (b) scanning electron micrograph in transverse section and (c) microscope
image in transverse section and drawing (lignin is stained red)
Relating structure & function in xylem vessel elements table
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YOUR NOTES

Also see Comparison of xylem & phloem tissue table in Phloem Sieve Tube Elements
 Exam Tip
You must be able to recognise the xylem vessel elements in images so look for the
thicker cell walls and the larger diameter. You also need to know the difference
between xylem and phloem tissue.
Page 13 of 18
7.1.4 Phloem Sieve Tube Elements YOUR NOTES


Phloem Sieve Tube Elements & Companion Cells: Structure & Function
The function of phloem tissue in a plant is to:
Transport organic compounds (assimilates), particularly sucrose, from the source
(eg. leaf) to the sink (eg. roots). The transport of these compounds can occur up and
down the plant
The organic compounds are dissolved in water to form sap
Phloem is a complex tissue made up of various cell types; its bulk is made up of sieve tube
elements which are the main conducting cells and companion cells
Other cell types of phloem tissue also include parenchyma for storage and strengthening
fibres
Mature phloem tissue contains living cells, unlike xylem tissue
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Structure of phloem tissue. (a) Microscope slide image and drawing of a sieve tube element YOUR NOTES
and companion cell in transverse section (TS), (b) photomicrograph image and drawing of a 
sieve tube element and companion cell in longitudinal section (LS).
Structure of phloem tissue. (c) Transmission electron micrograph image and drawing of a
sieve tube element and companion cell in transverse section (TS)
Sieve tube elements
Sieve tube elements line up end to end to form a continuous tube
Phloem sieve tube elements structure & function table
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YOUR NOTES

Companion cells
Each sieve tube element has a companion cell associated with it as companion cells
control the metabolism of their associated sieve tube member
They also play a role in loading and unloading of sugars into the phloem
Phloem companion cells structure & function table
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YOUR NOTES

Comparison of xylem & phloem tissue table
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YOUR NOTES

 Exam Tip
Understand the difference between sieve tube elements and companion cells, and
how they are different to xylem tissue. Remember that mature xylem tissue is dead,
so there is no evidence of organelles, and they have lignified cell walls, whereas
sieve tube elements have no lignin, do have sieve plates, and their companion cells
contain nuclei and dense cytoplasm.
Page 18 of 18

Transport in Plants

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7.1 Structure of Transport Tissues

7.1.1 Plant Transverse Sections YOUR NOTES

Tissue plan diagrams of a dicotyledonous leaf, stem and root

Step 1: Calculate the 1 eyepiece graticule unit

Step 1: Calculate the number of divisions between X and Y

Exam Tip YOUR NOTES

7.1.2 Xylem & Phloem Distribution YOUR NOTES

7.1.3 Xylem Vessels Elements YOUR NOTES

Images of xylem vessel elements, (a) photomicrograph in longitudinal section (lignin is

7.1.4 Phloem Sieve Tube Elements YOUR NOTES

Comparison of xylem & phloem tissue table

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