TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
1 Xylem and phloem
 State the functions of xylem and
phloem: (a) xylem – transport of
water and mineral ions, and
support, (b) phloem – transport of
sucrose and amino acids
 Identify in diagrams and images
the position of xylem and phloem
as seen in sections of roots, stems
and leaves of non-woody
dicotyledonous plants
 Identify in diagrams and images
root hair cells and state their
functions
 State that the large surface area of
root hair cells and state their
functions
 Outline the pathway taken by water
through the root, stem and leaf as:
root hair cells, root cortex cells,
xylem, mesophyll cells
 Investigate, using a suitable stain,
the pathway of water through the
above-ground parts of a plant
 Describe transpiration as the loss of
water vapor from leaves
 State that water evaporates from
the surfaces of the mesophyll cells
into the air spaces and then diffuses
out of the leaves through the
stomata as water vapor
 Investigate and describe the effects
of variation of temperature and
wind speed on transpiration rate
8.
Structures
leaf stem roots
Xylem and Xylem and Xylem forms a
phloem are phloem are cross
present in present in
the midrib between the
of the leaf, pith and the
as well as in cortex.
the leaf
veins.
Epidermis
Like the leaf epidermis, this is a single
layer of cells that helps to keep the shape
of the stem and cuts down the loss of water
vapor. There are stomata in the epidermis,
which allows the tissues inside to take up
oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.
Vascular bundles
These are made up of groups of
specialized cells that carry water, dissolves
salts and food up or down the stem. The
vascular bundles in the roots, stem, leaf
stalks and leaf veins all join to form a
transport system through the whole plant.
The two main tissues in the vascular
bundles are called xylem and phloem.
Food substances (sucrose and amino acids)
travel in the phloem; water and mineral
ions travel mainly in the xylem. The cells
in each tissue from elongated tubes called
vessels (in the xylem) or sieve tubes (in
the phloem) and they surrounded and
supported by other cells. The xylem also
helps to support the plant.
Sieve tubes
The conducting cells in the phloem remain
alive and form sieve tubes. Like vessels,
they formed by
WATER UPTAKE
Root hair cells
Root hairs are tiny, tube-like outgrowths
that are produced by the outer layer cells
locating at the region above the root tip
where the root has just stopped growing.
These look like a white furry layer on the
roots of the seedlings if you grow them in
moist air. In the soil, the root hair cells
grow between the soil particles and stick-
closely to them. They provide a large Activity
surface area to take up water from the soil
1. Draw a diagram of the movement
by osmosis and to absorb mineral ions by
of water from the roots to the stem
active transport.
2. Place the parts of a root in the
Root hair cells only live for a short time. correct order to outline the passage
The region of root just below a root hair of water into the plants: cortex
zone is producing new root hairs, while the cells, mesophyll cells, root hair
root hairs at the top of the zone are cells, xylem
shriveling. Above the root hair zone, the 3. Describe the path taken by a water
cell walls of the outer layer become less molecule from the soil until it
permeable. This means that water cannot reaches a mesophyll cell of a leaf
get in so easily. to be made into sugar.

Uptake and transport of water and ions

Scientists think that the water tension
developed in the vessels by a rapidly
transpiring plant is enough to move water
through the root from the soil. The water
enters the root hair cells and is then passed
on to cells in the root cortex. It enters the
xylem vessels and moves up the stem and
into the leaves. Here, the xylem passes
along the midrib before branching into leaf
veins, arriving at the leaf mesophyll cells.
Scientists are still unsure of how the water
passes through the cortex of the root. It is
probably easier for the water to pass in or
between the cell walls rather than through
the cytoplasm of each cell. The figure
below summarizes the movement of water
from the soil to the stem of the plant.
TRANSPIRATION
the main force that draws water from the
soil and through the plant is caused by a
process called TRANSPIRATION.
Transpiration can be defined as the loss of
water vapour from leaves
Water evaporates from the surfaces of the
spongy mesophyll cells of the leaves into
the air spaces. It then diffuses out of the
leaves through the stomata as water
vapour. Water evaporates from the leaves
causes suction, which pulls water up the
stem. The water travels up the xylem
vessels in the vascular bundles and this
flow of water is called the transpiration
stream.
HUMIDITY
Expose the plant to a
humid atmosphere. An
increase in humidity
will reduce the rate of
loss of mass. This is
because it reduces
transpiration, so the
rate of loss of mass
slows down