Transport of

Substances
in Plants
Vascular tissue in LEAF
Vascular tissue in STEM

DICOTYLEDO
Vascular tissue in STEM

MONOCOTYLEDO
NOUS
Vascular tissue in ROOT
XYLEM

-Xylem contains xylem vessels, tracheids,

parenchyma and
fibres
-Xylem vessels and tracheids are water-
conducting cell.
-The wall of xylem vessels and tracheids are
thicked with
lignin deposit, making them woody and
impermeable.
-Mature xylem vessels and tracheids are
hollow and dead.
-The wall of xylem vessels and tracheids are
perforated by
PHLOEM
- Phloem is composed of sieve tube,
companion cell, parenchyma and fibre
- Organic substances are transported along
the sieve tube
- The sieve tube have no nucleus and its
cytoplasm is pushed to the sides of the
cell,
- The end wall of each cell are perforated
by pores to form sieve plates.
- A companion cell is a normal cell with a
nucleus and large number of
mitochondria.
- The function of parenchyma- to store food
substances
- The function of fibres- to provide support
 Comparison between XYLEM and PHLOEM
XYLEM PHLOEM
Function Water and mineral transport from Transportation of food and nutrients such as
roots to aerial parts of the plant. sugar and amino acids from leaves to storage
organs and growing parts of plant.
( Translocation)
Movement Unidirectional (Moves up the plant's Bidirectional (Moves up or down the plant's
stem) stem from "source to sink")
Additional Forms vascular bundles with phloem Forms vascular bundles with xylem
Function and gives mechanical strength to plant
due to presence of lignin cells. The
lignified secondary wall also makes
the xylem waterproof and prevent it
from collapsing under the pressure of
water transpiration
Location in xylem occupy the centre of the Phloem occur on outer side of the vascular
vascular vascular bundle. bundle.
bundle
Nature of Dead tissue at maturity so it is hollow Living tissue with little cytoplasm but no
 Experiments on PHLOEM
Aim: To carry out bark ringing to show the role of
phloem in a plant.
Materials: A pot containing two woody plants( such
as hibiscus) and petroleum jelly
Apparatus: Knife and ruler
Procedure:
1. A complete ring of bark including the phloem
and cambium is removed from one of the
hibiscus stems. The ring is about 4cm wide and
about 15cm long from the ground.
2. The exposed xylem is covered with a layer of
petroleum jelly.
3. The plants are watered regularly
4. After 4 weeks, the part above and below the
ring is observed.
 Experiments on PHLOEM
1. Bark ringing is the removal of ring of tissue
external to the xylem from around the trunk of
woody plant.
2. The ring is covered with petroleum jelly to
prevent it from drying up.
3. Complete ringing affects the transport of
organic substances from the leaves to the roots
due to the disconnection of phloem at the ring.
4. After a few weeks, there is a swelling above the
ring and reduced growth below the ring.
5. Prediction: Gradually the roots will die because
they cannot get food from the upper part of the
plant. When the roots die, there will be no
absorption of water and mineral salts.
Eventually, the whole plants die.
 TRANSPIRATION
Transpiration is the loss of water vapour from a living plant
due to evaporation.
Three main sites of transpiration:
- Stomata : 90% of transpiration takes place through
stomata
- Cuticle : 10% of transpiration takes place through cuticle
- Lenticels
Transpiration occurs mainly daytime when stomata is opened.
Process of transpiration

1. Water evaporated from the wall of spongy

mesophyll cells
2. The concentration of water vapour in
atpmosphere is lower than water vapour in air
spaces.
3. Water vapour in air spaces evaporate and
diffuse through stomata
4. Mesophyll cell become hypertonic compared to
adjacent cell.
5. Water from adjacent cell diffuse into mesophyll
cell through osmosis.
 External condition
affect the rate of transpiration
Light intensity Air
movement

Temperature Humidity
EXPERIMENT on The Rate of Transpiration
Aim: Using a photometer to study the
factors affecting the rate of
transpiration.
Materials: Leafy shoot and marker
pen
Apparatus: Potometer, retort stand,
beaker, knife, ruler and stopwatch
Manipulated variable: Air
movement
Responding variable: Rate of
transpiration
Constant variable: Size of beaker
Procedure:
1. A potometer is an instrument which
measures the uptake of water by a
leafy shoot.
2. A leafy shoot is cut under water and
the cut end is kept in water. This is to
prevent air from entering the xylem
vessels.
3. The capillary tube and rubber tubing
are filled with water and the leafy
shoot is inserted into the rubber
tubing.
4. The potometer is placed in a beaker
of water for 5 minutes to allow water
to move up the capillary tube.
5. A section of the capillary tube is
marked P and Q, a distance of 50mm.
Procedure:
7. The capillary tube is placed back into the
beaker of water and kept upright
using a retort stand.
8. The leafy shoot is subjected to various
external conditions.
(a)Air movement: Under a strong fan and in
still air
(b)Temperature: In an air-conditioned room
and in a non air-conditioned room
(c)Light intensity: Expose the shoot to light
and cover it with a large black plastic bag.

(d)Relative humidity: cover the shoot with a

large transparent plastic bag into which
water has been sprinkled and the shoot left
uncovered.
9. Time taken for the air bubble to move from
P to Q is
recorded. Three readings are taken for each
condition.
Movement of water through the roots
Movement of water through the roots
Movement of water through the roots
 Guttation
1.When there is a high soil moisture level, water
will enter plant roots, because the water
potential of the roots is lower than in the soil
solution.

2.The water will accumulate in the plant, creating

a slight root pressure.

3.The root pressure forces some water to exude

through special leaf tip or edge structures,
hydathodes or water glands, forming drops.

4.Guttation is most noticeable when transpiration

is suppressed and the relative humidity is high,
such as during the night.
 Comparison between Transpiration and Guttation
TRANSPIRATION GUTTATION

Take place during the day. Occurs during the night.

Water is lost as vapours. Water is lost as liquid.

Water transpired is pure. Water lost is rich in minerals, etc.

Stomata bring about this process. Take place through hydathodes

It is a regulated and controlled It is an uncontrolled phenomenon.

phenomenon .
In this process, temperature of No such effects takes place here.
leaf and the plant is decreased.
Movement of water
through the stems
1. The continuous upward
movement of water through
xylem vessels can be explained
by the adhesive and cohesive
properties of water molecule
2. Narrow diameter of xylem vessels
increased the forces generated by
capillarity.
3. Capillarity= capillary action
4. Water molecules adhere the wall
of xylem vessels by adhesive
force.
5. The cohesion and adhesion of
water molecules are due to
Movement of water from
the roots to the leaves
1. Movement of water from the
leaves to the atmosphere is due
to the process of transpiration.
2. The loss of water creates a
tension or transpirational pull in
the water column.
3. As water is pulled upwards, the
cohesion of water due to
hydrogen bonding holds the
water molecules together.
4. This prevent the water column in
the xylem breaking apart.
5. The adhesion of water molecules
to the walls of xylem vessels and
tracheids prevent water form
Opening and Closing of Stoma
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