Transport in plants – Chapter 8

• Read pages 94-103 from your books

• Answer the following questions:
• What is the function of the xylem vessels?
It carries water and minerals from root to the stems and leaves
• What substance makes up the cell wall of xylem vessels?
lignin
• What is the function of the phloem?
Phloem transports food produced from photosynthesis from leaves to non-photosynthesizing
parts of a plant such as roots and stems.
• Name 3 differences between xylem and phloem vessels
1_Xylem transports only minerals and waters from the roots. Phloem transports food materials
that are prepared by the green parts of the plants to other parts of the plant.
2_Xylem is the dead tissues at maturity, but no cell contents. Phloem is the living tissue, but not
with the nucleus.
3_Xylem contains Dead cells.phloem mainly contains living cells
• What is a vascular bundle?
A vascular bundle is a part of the transport system in vascular plants
• What is the function of the root cap and where is it located?
The root cap protects the growing tip in plants and it is located at the tip of the root, covering it
• Explain the way in which water enters root hairs. What is the difference between
this process and the way mineral go into the root hairs?
Water enters the root hair cells by osmosis. This is because soil water has a higher water
potential than the cytoplasm of the root hair cell.There are no differences as they both enter by
osmosis
• How does the water, once inside the root, reach the different parts of the plant?
Water can move from the root hair cells and across the parenchyma cells of the cortex in two
major ways. Some water passes through the cells by osmosis. Most water travels either in, or
between the cell walls by simple diffusion. The water must pass through the endodermis to
enter the xylem. Once water is in the xylem of the root, it will pass up the xylem of the stem.
• What is transpiration? Where and how does this process occur?
Transpiration is the process where plants absorb water through the roots and then give off
water vapor through pores in their leaves.It occurs chiefly at the leaves while their stomata are
open for the passage of CO2 and O2 during photosynthesis.
• How is transpiration related with water transport through the xylem?
The diffusion of water across a semi - permeable membrane from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower concentration is called osmosis. The loss of water in the
vapour form is called transpiration
• Explain how temperature and light intensity affect the rate of transpiration
Light intensity-In bright light the plant may open its stomata to supply plenty of carbon dioxide
for photosynthesis where more water can evaporate from the leaves. Wind-On windy day water
evaporates more quickly than on a still day. Transpiration increases as wind speed increases.
• What is translocation?
Translocation is the movement of materials from leaves to other tissues throughout the plant.