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Transport in
Plants
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Transport in Plant and Unicellular
Organisms
 2.51 understand why simple, unicellular organisms can rely on diffusion for movement of substances in and out of the cell

 2.52 understand the need for a transport system in multicellular organisms

 Flowering plants

 2.53 describe the role of phloem in transporting sucrose and amino acids between the leaves and other parts of the plant.

 2.54 describe the role of xylem in transporting water and mineral ions from the roots to other parts of the plant

 2.55B understand how water is absorbed by root hair cells.

 2.56B understand that transpiration is the evaporation of water from the surface of a plant

 2.57B understand how the rate of transpiration is affected by changes in humidity, wind speed, temperature and
light intensity

 2.58B practical: investigate the role of environmental factors in determining the rate of transpiration from a leafy
shoot.
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Uses of Transport Systems

 Why can smaller, unicellular organisms rely on diffusion
while multicellular organisms need a transport system?
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Uses of Transport Systems

 Why can smaller, unicellular organisms rely on diffusion
while multicellular organisms need a transport system?
 Size – rate of diffusion over a short distances is
sufficient in unicellular organisms
 Surface area to volume ratio
 Simplicity vs complexity
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Copy and complete the table as we go
through the notes
Xylem Phloem
What is carried
Which direction
From where
To where
By which process
Vessel cells alive or dead
Dead/Alive because.....
Energy from movement come from
Thick or thin cell walls
Thick/thin because....
Tissues made up of
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Xylem Tubes in Plants
 The xylem is a tissue which transports water
and minerals from the roots up the plant stem
and into the leaves.

 Xylem consists of dead cells. The cells that

make up the xylem are adapted to their
function:

 They lose their end walls so the xylem forms a

continuous, hollow tube.

 They become strengthened by a substance

called lignin. Lignin gives strength and
support to the plant. We call lignified cells
wood.

 Transport in the xylem is a physical process. It

does not require energy.
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Phloem Tubes in Plants
 The phloem moves food substances that the plant has produced by
photosynthesis to where they are needed for processes such as:

 growing parts of the plant for immediate use

 storage organs such as bulbs and tubers

 developing seeds

 Transport in the phloem is therefore both up and down the

stem. Sucrose is the transport sugar in the phloem. Transport of
substances in the phloem is called translocation. Translocation
requires energy as it is an active process.

 Phloem consists of living cells. The cells that make up the phloem are
adapted to their function:

 Sieve tubes - specialised for transport and have no nuclei. Each sieve
tube has a perforated end so its cytoplasm connects one cell to the
next. Sucrose and amino acids are translocated within the living
cytoplasm of the sieve tubes.

 Companion cells - transport of substances in the phloem requires

energy. One or more companion cells attached to each sieve tube
provide this energy. A sieve tube is completely dependent on its
companion cell(s).
 Xylem Phloem
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What is carried Water and mineral ions Sucrose and other organic molecules

Which direction up Up and down

From where Root hairs (roots) ‘Sources’

Spring & summer (growing season)
= leaves
Early spring = roots (as sugars etc stored in roots move to
grow new leaves)

To where Leaves (and flowers and fruit) ‘sinks’

Ie buds, flowers, fruits, roots

By which process transpiration translocation

Vessel cells alive or dead dead alive

Dead/Alive because..... Walls impregnated with waterproof strengthening Materials need to be pumped up and down (no
materials so insides die transpiration stream)

Energy from movement Evaporation of water from stomata resulting in a negative Respiration in mitochondria, forming ATP which is used in
come from pressure which ‘pulls’ water up active transport

Thick or thin cell walls thick thin

Thick/thin because.... Walls need to withstand the strong suction pressures No need for strength and thin walls means it is easier /
caused by water being pulled up the stem faster to pump larger molecules in and out of phloem
vessel

Tissues made up of Xylem vessels (no end walls) Phloem sieve tubes (with sieve-like end walls) and
companion cells
  Plants absorb water from the soil by osmosis. They
z absorb mineral ions by active transport, against the
concentration gradient. Root hair cells are adapted
for taking up water and mineral ions by having a large
surface area to increase the rate of absorption. They
also contain lots of mitochondria, which release
energy from glucose during respiration in order to
Root Hair Cells provide the energy needed for active transport.
Draw and label a root hair  The absorbed water is transported through the roots
cell to the rest of the plant where it is used for different
purposes:

 it is a reactant used in photosynthesis

 it supports leaves and shoots by keeping the cells rigid

 it cools the leaves by evaporation

 it transports dissolved minerals around the plant

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Transpiration

 When the plant opens its stomata to let in carbon dioxide, water on the surface of the cells of the spongy mesophyll and palisade
mesophyll evaporates and diffuses out of the leaf. This process is called transpiration.

 Water is drawn from the xylem to replace the water that has been lost from the leaves.

 Water molecules inside the xylem cells are strongly attracted to other water molecules. There is strong cohesion between the
molecules because of hydrogen bonding. A continuous column of water is therefore pulled up the stem in the transpiration stream
by evaporation from the leaves.

 As water travels through the xylem in the stem and leaf, it is being replaced by water taken up by the roots.

 Transpiration is an unavoidable consequence of photosynthesis - only five per cent of the water taken up by the plant is used for
photosynthesis - but does have its purposes:

 provides the water for photosynthesis

 transports mineral ions

 cools the leaf as water evaporates

 provides water that keeps the cells turgid, which supports herbaceous plants
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Factors that affect the rate of
Transpiration

Change in factor that increases

Factor Explanation
transpiration rate
Increases molecular movement so that: more
water molecules evaporate from cell surfaces;
Temperature Increase
the rate of diffusion of water molecules from the
leaf is increased
Reduces the concentration of water molecules
Humidity Decrease outside the leaf; diffusion of water from the leaf
increases
Removes water vapour from leaf surfaces;
Air movement Increase more water diffuses from the leaf because a
high concentration gradient is maintained
Increases the rate of photosynthesis; stomata
Light intensity Increase
open so that water diffuses out of the leaf
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investigate the role of environmental factors in
determining the rate of transpiration from a
leafy shoot.
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Investigate

 Use one of the methods shown to investigate a factor relating to

rate of transpiration

 Use a hairdryer to increase temperature and wind speed