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Transport in Plants
Transport in Plants
TRANSPORT IN PLANTS.
Plants have transport systems to move food, water and minerals around.
These systems use continuous tubes called xylem and phloem:
Functions of xylem vessels.
To transport water
To transport mineral ions e.g. nitrate, magnesium ions, phosphates
To provide structural support.
Functions of Phloem vessels.
Phloem tubes carry sugars (sucrose) & other organic nutrients e.g. amino
acids made by plant from the leaves to the rest of the plan for use and
storage.
NB: the movement of molecules along the phloem vessels is called
translocation.
Structure of the xylem and phloem tissues as seen in section of stem , root and
leaf.
2
In the roots xylem and phloem are in the centre to withstand stretching
forces.
In the stems, they are arranged in bundles near the edge to resist
compression and bending.
SAMPLE QUESTION.
N19P41Q2 Phloem is used to transport sucrose and amino
acids in plants. Sucrose is a carbohydrate.
(a) Describe the uses of carbohydrates and amino acids in
plants. [4]
(b) Fig. 2.1 shows a diagram of a plant. The arrows point to
circles containing magnified
cross-sections of those parts of the plant.
6
Fig. 2.1
Label the position of the phloem in each of the three
magnified sections in Fig. 2.1.
Use a label line and the letter P for each section.
[3]
7
SAMPLE QUESTION.
The diagram shows a transverse section of the central portion of a
root in a dicotyledonous plant.
The lower end of a plant stem is placed in water coloured with red dye.
After three hours, the stem is cut as shown in the diagram.
8
[4]
13
Marking points
thick / lignified, cell walls; for support;
lignin; cell walls are waterproof / no water leaks out;
hollow ; water passes through easily / low resistance (to flow);
pits; for lateral movement;
14
The hair is an extension of the cell and not a separate cellular structure.
17
Its function is to Increase the external surface area of the root for
absorption of water and mineral ions (the hair increases the surface area of
the cell to make it more efficient in absorbing materials).
It also Provides anchorage for the plant.
ADAPTATIONS OF THE ROOT HAIR CELL.
Has large surface area to maximize absorption.
Has membrane with carrier proteins for active transport of ions.
Has vacuole with high concentration of salts and sugars to give low water
potential.
Thin cell wall to provide short distance for diffusion.
More mitochondria to provide energy for active transport.
The root hair cell has large vacuole with concentrated cell sap (dissolved
sugars and salts).
Dissolved salts and sugars lower the water potential the cell.
The soil has higher water potential than the root hair cell.
Water enters the cell by osmosis through the partially cell membrane down
the water potential gradient.
SAMPLE QUESTION.
Q1 Water moves into plants from the soil and exits through the
leaves.
(a) Explain how water moves from the soil into the root.
[4]
MARKING POINTS
Water moves into the root hair cells by osmosis.
From a region of higher water potential to region lower water potential.
Through a partially permeable membrane.
19
Salts/sugars / solutes in the vacuole lower the water potential in the root hair
cells.
MOVEMENT OF WATER FROM THE ROOT HAIR CELLS TO THE
XYLEM.
Water enters root hair cells by osmosis. This happens when the water
potential in the soil surrounding the root is higher than in the cell à water
diffuses from the soil into the root hair, down its concentration gradient.
As the water enters the cell, its water potential becomes higher than in the
cell next to it, e.g. in the cortex.
Water moves, by osmosis, from one cell to another down the water potential
until water enters the xylem vessels.
Root hair cell root cortex cells xylem of root xylem of stem xylem of leaf
mesophyll cell.
21
Investigating ,using methylene blue, the pathway of water through the above
ground parts of a plant.
A young plant shoot with leaves is placed in a solution of 1% methylene
blue.
The presence of blue in the vascular bundle shows that the dye dissolved in
water travelled up the stem in the xylem vessels.
TRANSPIRATION
Key definition: Transpiration is the loss of water vapour from plant
leaves by evaporation of water at the surface of mesophyll cells followed
by diffusion of water vapour through the stomata.
How water vapour loss is related to the large surface area of cell
surface ,interconnecting air spaces and stomata.
Mesophyll cells are lined by a thin layer of water.
Water evaporates from the mesophyll lining into the air spaces.
This creates a high concentration of water vapour molecules in the air
spaces.
Water vapour diffuses out of the leaf into the surrounding air, through
the stomata, by diffusion.
IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPIRATION.
Transpiration results in the uptake of water and transport of mineral
ions which move through the plant in the transpiration stream.
23
SAMPLE QUESTION.
MARKING POINTS.
water evaporates from the surface of the mesophyll cell, into airspaces (in
mesophyll);
Water moves from the upper part of the xylem by osmosis into leaf cells;
Loss of water generates a suction force/ tension/ negative pressure
continuous column of water is pulled up as stream;
cohesion of water molecules enables them to be pulled as a column.
adhesion of water to, cell wall / xylem prevents the collapsing of the column.
water vapour, diffuses / passes, out through stomata;
25
WILTING
Wilting is a condition when plants lose more water than they absorb,
leaves lose their turgidity and they droop.
The diagram below shows a potted plant left on light for 24hours when water
loss is greater than water uptake.
IMPORTANCE OF WILTING.
Wilting prevents huge water loses through transpiration.
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3.Light intensity.
4. Wind.
The greater the wind speed, the faster the rate of transpiration.
Increase in air movements removes water vapour molecules as they pass out
of the leaf, maintaining a steep concentration gradient for diffusion.
Water vapour molecules diffuse out of the leaf through the stomata.
SAMPLE QUESTION.
• light intensity
• humidity.
[7]
(b) Suggest the importance of transpiration to a plant.
[3]
[Total: 10]
MARKING POINTS.
9 (a)
temperature
rate of transpiration increases with increasing temperature ;
Increased temperature increases the evaporation of water;
from surface of mesophyll cells ;
Increasing temperature increases the kinetic energy of water vapour
molecules
Molecules move faster hence increased rate of diffusion.
light intensity
Increasing light intensity increases rate of transpiration.
more stomata open / stomata open wider ;
increased surface area for water loss ;
humidity
Increasing humidity decreases the rate of transpiration;
diffusion gradient decreases
Rate decreases;
(b)
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SAMPLE QUESTION
Fig. 5.1
(a) (i) Describe and explain the results shown in Fig. 5.1.
[5]
(ii) The investigation was repeated on a day when the air humidity was
higher.
Suggest and explain the effect that this would have on the results.
[3]
(b) The leaves of pine trees show xerophytic features. Stems and
roots also show xerophytic adaptations.
State one adaptation of the stem and one adaptation of the root in
xerophytes. [2]
(c) Water is one of the raw materials needed for the production of
sugars in photosynthesis.
(i) State the name of the other raw material needed for
photosynthesis. [1]
(ii) State three ways a plant uses the sugars produced in
photosynthesis. [3]
MARKING POINTS.
5(a)
(i)
leaf A / thick cuticle, lost the least mass / water ;
33
PROCEDU
RE.
The leafy shoot is cut, the apparatus filled and the shoot fixed to the
potometer, all under water to prevent air locks in the system.
The plant is allowed to equilibrate (to adjust to the conditions) for
5min before introducing air bubble.
Air bubble is inserted by removal of tube from water.
The bubbles move towards the plants due to transpiration pull.
The rate is calculated by dividing the distance moved by time.
To improve reliability, rate of bubble movement is measured at least 3
times and average result is calculated.
NB: Measuring the rate 3 times helps to improve reliability.
Reservoir of water is used to return bubble to zero each time.
35
NB: For the water taken up by the plant 98% is lost by transpiration,
1% is used to increase the turgor pressure for support.
and the other 1% is used in photosynthesis.
SAMPLE QUESTION.
N17P31 Q 7 Fig. 7.1 shows a potometer.
This equipment is used to measure the rate of water uptake in a leafy
shoot.
Fig. 7.1
(a) A leafy shoot in a potometer was exposed to different conditions.
36
(i) State which conditions result in the greatest rate of water uptake
in the shoot.
[1]
(ii) Calculate the rate of water uptake in millimetres per minute for
the shoot in cool, damp air.
Show your working.
.............................. mm per min
[4]
[Total: 10]
37
SAMPLE QUESTION.
J09 P3 4 (a) Using the term water potential, explain how water is
absorbed into root hairs from the soil.
[3]
A potometer is a piece of apparatus that is used to measure water
uptake by plants.
Most of the water taken up by plants replaces water lost in
transpiration.
A student used a potometer to investigate the effect of wind speed on
the rate of water
uptake by a leafy shoot. As the shoot absorbs water the air bubble
moves upwards.
The student’s apparatus is shown in Fig. 4.2.
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Fig.
4.2
The student used a fan with five different settings and measured the
wind speed. The
results are shown in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1
(b) Calculate the rate of water uptake at the highest wind speed and
write your answer in
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the table.
[1]
(c) Describe the effect of increasing wind speed on the rate of water
uptake. You may
use figures from Table 4.1 to support your answe
.[2]
(d) State two environmental factors, other than wind speed, that the
student should
keep constant during the investigation.
[2]
(e) Some of the water absorbed by the plants is not lost in
transpiration.
State two other ways in which water is used.
[2]
(f) Water moves through the xylem to the tops of very tall trees, such
as giant redwoods of North America. The movement of water in the
xylem is caused by transpiration.
Explain how transpiration is responsible for the movement of water in
the xylem. [4]
(g) Plants that live in hot, dry environments show adaptations for
survival.
State three structural adaptations of these plants.
[3]
MARKING POINTS.
4 (a)
osmosis;
water, diffuses / moves, down water potential gradient ;
through partially permeable membrane
(b)
20.0
(c)
(rate of water) uptake increases ;
There positive correlation
40
(d)
temperature ;
humidity ;
light intensity
(e)
(raw material for) photosynthesis.
Keeps plant cells turgid for support ;
transport of, solutes e.g nitrates
forming vacuoles / growth / (cell) expansion ;
taking part in chemical reaction(s) ; e.g. hydrolysis / breaking down food
substance
medium for chemical reactions
(f)
loss of water (vapour) through stomata (in leaves) ;
evaporation, from surfaces of (mesophyll) cells / into air spaces (in leaf) ;
loss of water from leaf (cells) lowers water potential ;
water moves into leaf from xylem ;
This pulls on / creates tension in water column in xylem ;
cohesion of water molecules enable water molecules to be pulled as a
column .
Adhesion of water molecules and the xylem vessels prevent the collapsing of
the water column.
(g)s structural adaptations
leaves, small / reduced to spines / are needles ; A small surface area
no leaves ;
curled / rolled, leaves ;
hairs on the, leaves / stems ;
thick waxy cuticle ;
sunken stomata
few stomata ;
fleshy / succulent, leaves / stems ; A described as reserves / stores of water
small surface area: volume ratio ;
deep roots ;
long / extensive, shallow roots
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WEIGHT POTOMETER.
A weight potometer is used to demonstrate water loss by plant.
42
PROCEDURE.
Four leaves of the same size and age are cut from the same plant for fair
comparison.
The four leaves are treated differently.
Leaf A: On the leaf a thin layer of same type petroleum jelly is smeared on
both surfaces.
Leaf B: A thin layer of petroleum jelly is smeared on the lower surface of
the leaf.
Leaf C: A thin layer of petroleum jelly is smeared on the upper surface of
the leaf.
Leaf D: The leaf left free of petroleum jelly.
Little Vaseline is placed on the end of the leaf stalk to prevent loss of water
through the cut stalk.
The leaves are suspended from a stand with threads for several days the
results were as shown below.
RESULTS.
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INTERPRETATION
XEROPHYTES.
Xerophytes are adapted to survive in dry environments .
46
47
ADAPTATIONS OF LEAVES.
EXAMPLE1: Marram grass – A plant that grows on sand dunes.
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EXAMPLE 2: Cactus
50
Leaves reduced to spines – this reduces the surface area for transpiration
and also acts as a defense against herbivores.
Reduces number of stomata.
Stomata closed during the day- when conditions for transpiration are most
favorable.
Fleshy stem - to store water.
Fibrous roots to increase surface area for uptake of water.
Long tap roots to absorb water from the water table.
HYDROPHYTES .
The stems and leaf stalks have hollow spaces in them, filled with air à help
to float on the top of the water where they can get plenty of light for
photosynthesis.
52
Source- is the part of plant where substances are produced e.g. photosynthetic
leaves.
Sink- refers to the part of the plant where the substrate can be stored e.g. roots or
stems for starch.
During the summer, the leaves photosynthesis and send sucrose down into
underground stems. Underground stems swell to form tubers, sucrose is
converted to starch for storage.
In spring, new shoots row from the tubers. Starch in the tubers is changed
back to sucrose, and is transported in the phloem to the growing stem and
leaves. This will continue until the leaves are above the ground and
photosynthesize.
NB: in summer leaves are the source and the growing stem tubers are the
sinks.
In spring, the stem tubers are the sources and the growing leaves are sinks.
NB: Phloem can transfer sucrose in either direction - up or down the plant.
54
This isn't true for the transport of water in the xylem vessels. That can only
go upwards, because transpiration always happens at the leaf surface, and
it is this that provides the 'pull' to draw water up the plant.
RINGING EXPERIMENT
The diagram shows part of the trunk of a small tree with a ring of bark removed.
Removing the
ring of bark takes away phloem but leaves the xylem intact.
55
The phloem vessels are situated nearer to the bark in comparison with xylem so
they can be selectively removed by cutting a ring in a stem just deep enough to cut
the phloem but not the xylem.
After a week there is:
a swelling above the ring
reduced growth below the ring
the leaves are unaffected.
This was early evidence that sugars were transported downwards in the phloem.
Grey squirrels and other small mammals gnaw the bark and destroy the phloem
that is in the inner bark region.
56
SAMPLE QUESTION.
Fig. 9.1
Plants need to move substances around between their leaves, stems and
roots. One of the processes they use is translocation.
Describe the process of translocation.
[3]
57
Fig. 9.2
On Fig. 9.2 use label lines and the letter X to identify one region of
xylem in each section (root, stem and leaf).
3]
58
59
(a)Plants need to move substances around between their leaves, stems and roots.
One of the processes they use is translocation.
Aphids are small insects that feed on the sap in the phloem of plants.
They have piercing mouth parts called stylet which can be inserted into a
phloem tube.
Aphids can be used to study the transport of sugars in the phloem.
If the stylet of a feeding aphid is cut, the sugary sap will pass out of the
stylet for some time.
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Phloem Xylem
Feature
61
sink.
Destinations To the sink To the leaves
Energy Energy is to Movement of water