TRANSPORT IN PLANTS

Vascular Bundles

These are the main transport systems in plants.

They are found in roots, stem and even the leaves of plants.

They consist of:

● Xylem
● Phloem

Position of vascular bundles

Plant stem

It’s made of the following parts:

● Epidermis
● Cortex
● Vascular bundle
● Pith

Structure of the root

It’s made up of the following parts:

● Epidermis
● Cortex
● Endodermis
 ● Vascular bundles

Structure of vascular Bundles

Xylem

They help in transporting water and mineral salts from the roots to the leaves

Materials are usually conducted only upwards

Structure of xylem

⮚ They are first formed as a living cells with normal cytoplasm and cellulose cell wall.
⮚ As the plant ages, they become elongated and their cell wall is impregnated with lignin.
⮚ The tissues become stronger and more supportive but the cell contents die.
⮚ The transverse cell walls between cells break forming a hollow tube that runs from the stem to the leaves
⮚ The xylem walls also contain specialized pits(holes) in some unlignified areas through which water and
mineral salts move to other cells
Phloem

It’s a living tissue made up of phloem cells

It helps in transport of manufactured food, sucrose, form the leaves to where it’s
required.

Movement in the phloem is both upwards and downwards.

Structure of phloem

It’s made up of living cells throughout its development.

Tubes in phloem are made by cells that are arranged end to end. These cells have
cellulose cell wall and usually retain their cell contents.

End of each cell comprises of a cross wall of cellulose with holes called sieve plates.

Cytoplasmic strands pass through the holes linking cells and forming sieve tubes.

Sieve tubes help transport products of photosynthesis.

Diagram page 129 figure 11.15

Absorption of water

Water is absorbed into the roots at the root tip in regions of root hair.

Structure of root hair

Diagram page 127 figure 11.11

Water absorption depends on the concentration gradient between the roots and the soil moisture/water.

The water in the root hair vacuole contains a lot of dissolved solutes/minerals. This makes its concentration to
be low.

On the other hand, water in the soil contains less dissolved minerals/solutes. This also makes its concentration
high.

A concentration gradient therefore develops between the soil and the root hair.

Water therefore moves from the soil into the root hair down concentration gradient by osmosis..

As a result, the root hair cell becomes more dilute than its neighbor, so water moves into the other cells by
osmosis until it reaches the xylem vessel.
Diagram page 127 figure 11.11

TRANSPIRATION

It’s the process by which water is lost as vapour from the leaves of plant.

In the leaves, water evaporates from the cell wall and the vapour accumulates in the
air spaces and finally diffuses out through the open stomata.
Diagram page 128 figure 11.12

Transpiration causes water to be pulled up into the xylem of roots and stem in a
continuous flow.

This flow is called transpiration stream.

Importance of transpiration stream

● Supplies water for photosynthesis

● Carries mineral salts that are dissolved in water
● Makes plant cells turgid thus offering support
● Helps in cooling the plant as water evaporate from the leaf.

Factors affecting transpiration

The following factors affect transpiration:

1. Light intensity
2. Temperature
 3. Humidity
4. Wind

Light intensity

Bright light results to an increase in the rate of transpiration.

This occurs because the stomata open in bright light to allow entry of carbon
dioxide for photosynthesis.

A lot of water therefore is lost/evaporates.

Dim light results to a decrease in the rate of transpiration.

This happens because most stomata are closed as no/little photosynthesis occurs.

As a result, less water is lost or evaporates

Temperature

High temperature increases the rate of transpiration.

This is because the kinetic energy of water particles is high resulting to a higher rate
of evaporation/diffusion through the stomata.

Low temperature decreases the rate of transpiration

This happens because of low kinetic energy of water particles resulting to low rate
of evaporation/diffusion through the stomata.

Humidity

High humid conditions decrease the rate of transpiration.

Diffusion of water vapour out of the leaf is usually slowed down if the leaf is already
surrounded by moist air.

Low humid conditions increase the rate of transpiration.

This is because diffusion of water out of the leaf is increase if the leaf is not
surrounded by moisture
Wind

Transpiration is usually higher in windy conditions.

This is because wind blows off moisture on the leaf surface, speeding up diffusion
of more water out of the leaf.

Transpiration is low on a calm day.

This is because calm conditions help retain moisture on the leaf surface, slowing
down diffusion of water out of the leaf.

Practical work on transpiration

Potometer

It’s a piece of apparatus which is used to measure the rate of transpiration or rate
of water uptake by plants.

Types of potometer

1. Weight potometer
2. Volume potometer

Weight potometer

Requirements

● Potted plant
 ● Weighing scale
● Aluminum foil/ polythene bag

Procedure

- Take a potted plant and make sure its well-watered

- Weigh the potted plant at the start of the experiment
- Cover the pot with a polythene bag to prevent water loss from the soil
- Expose the plant to some environmental conditions e.g. wind using a fan
- Leave the set up in the conditions for 5 hours
- Take the final weight of the apparatus

Diagram page 130 figure 11.19

Calculation

Water loss = Initial mass recorded- final mass recorded

Note

The pot is covered to ensure that water loss occurs only through the leaves

Volume potometer

Requirements

● Leafy shoot
● potometer
Procedure

⮚ A shoot is cut and the end is quickly put in water to prevent an air lock in the
xylem
⮚ The Potometer is filled under water so that the capillary tube is full
⮚ All air bubbles are removed from the water
⮚ The shoot is put into the rubber seal
⮚ The valve is changed to allow uptake
⮚ The amount of water taken up by the shoot per unit time is measured.
⮚ The shoot is then tested under different conditions e.g.
Wind by fan.

Or

Diagram page 131 figure 11.20

Observation

Movement of air bubbles along the capillary tube over time.

Conclusion

Air bubble movement indicates rate of water absorption/loss by the plant.

Work to do

1. Give the meaning of the term transpiration

2. Name two surfaces through which transpiration occurs in plants apart from
stomata
3. i)Describe the leaf adaptations for transpiration
ii) Draw and label the structure of stomata
4. Name the apparatus used to measure transpiration
5. Briefly explain how light intensity affects transpiration