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Transport systems
Transport systems
Transport systems
Large organisms need a transport system so that all cells can obtain
the essential substances required. Diffusion alone would be too slow.
1. Xylem vessels
Long hollow cells that from long tubes through the plant. Xylem
cells are dead and lignified (reinforced) to help support the
plant.
They carry water and dissolved mineral ions which enter the
plant through the root from the soil. They are important for
supplying water to leaves for photosynthesis.
The position of the xylem and phloem;
2. Phloem vessels
Phloem cells are living cells linked together to form continuous
tubes that carry dissolved food materials. These are mostly
the products of photosynthesis such as sucrose and amino
acids which are formed in leaves and carried to the rest of the
plant. Glucose is converted to sucrose before transport as it is
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less reactive and does not cause osmotic imbalances as it
travels. Sucrose can be converted to starch and stored in
seeds and tubers. This movement of food materials is called
translocation.
Root hair cells absorb water and mineral ions from the soil.
They have fine extensions that stick out into the soil which
greatly increases the surface area for absorption.
Root hair cells are found in a short region of the root just
behind the growing tip of each root. They are delicate and
easily damaged, they are lost as the root grows and more are
produced near the tip of the root.
Soil water is a very dilute concentration of water and solutes.
The concentration of water in the soil is higher than in the
root hair cell, so water enters the root hair cell (RHC) by
osmosis. This increases the concentration of water in the RHC
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compared with the cells nearby so water moves into the
neighbouring cells by osmosis. This increases the water
concentration in the neighbouring cells compared with the cells
further in the root so water moves into them…and so on until
water moves into the vascular bundle in the root. Here water is
carried up the xylem tubes by osmosis to the leaves.
Transpiration
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osmosis, which in turn draws water up the xylem vessel. This
continuous movement of water molecules up the plant is called
the transpiration stream.
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concentration gradient so the rate of transpiration is
faster.
2. Wind Speed
The faster the air outside the leaf is moving, the faster the
water molecules that diffuse out of the leaf move away.
This ensures the concentration gradient is always high so
transpiration rate is higher.
3. Temperature
Increased temperature gives particles more heat energy
which means they move faster, so they evaporate out of the
leaf faster. Higher temperatures therefore increase the
transpiration rate.
4. Light intensity
The higher the light intensity; the more photosynthesis is
taking place, so stomata open wide to allow diffusion of
gases into and out of the leaf. The open stomata also allow
water molecules to diffuse out of the leaf more easily which
increases the rate of transpiration.
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Measuring the Rate of Transpiration
Problem: Usually the water uptake would exceed water lost because
water is used for photosynthesis. In experiments like this, we
assume that they’re equal.