Question

name the structure that transports food synthesized in the leaves to the different parts of the plant

Answer 1

The plant body is generally divided into roots, stem, and leaves. The roots are in the soil, which is the major source of nutrients in plants. Water and other nutrients enter the plant through the roots.  The leaves are the food production centres. Using the sunlight and Carbon dioxide they synthesize food through photosynthesis in the chloroplasts.

Now, food from the leaves has to reach the other parts and the water, along with other nutrients has to reach leaves and other parts. All of this takes place through the vascular tissues of the plants. This is basically the transportation in plants.

You have already learned in earlier classes about the specialized cells and tissues in plants, which are the xylem and phloem. Together, they constitute the vascular structure in plants.

When talking about transportation in plants we must discuss Xylem and Phloem. Xylem and Phloem tissues are present throughout the plant. They begin at the root and then move up to the stem, branches, and leaves.

The xylem tissue transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves whereas the phloem tissue transports food from the leaves to the other parts of the plant. Xylem tissue has tracheids and vessel elements. Phloem tissue has companion cells and sieve tubes.

When transpiration in plants occurs, water gets evaporated from the leaves. This results in more water being pulled from the root. This phenomenon explains how water moves up in the plants, against gravity, without the use of any pump! The flow of water in the xylem tissues is unidirectional. It moves up the stem from the roots. It occupies the centre of the vascular bundle.

The phloem, on the other hand, is responsible for the translocation of the nutrients like carbohydrates and amino acids from the leaves to other areas of the plants. Here, the flow is bidirectional. It moves up and down the stem. Phloem occupies the edge of the vascular bundle, as seen in the following figure. Food movement in the phloem occurs due to the pressure flow mechanism. The differences in the osmotic pressure help in the movement of food from the area of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

Answer 2

Answer:

'Translocation' is the process by which the food synthesised in the leaves is transported to various 'parts of the plant'. The "phloem tissues" in the plant are responsible for "transporting food" produced in the "leaves" to the "different parts" of the plant.

Explanation:

Xylem and Phloem are the transporting tissue that transports nutrients, water and other useful elements that are important for the growth of a plant.

Xylem transports water from roots to "stems and leaves" while phloem is the living tissue that transports all the soluble organic elements that are formed during photosynthesis.

In general, Phloem transports sucrose to other parts. This whole process of transportation is called translocation.

The food synthesised in the leaves by the process of "photosynthesis"  moves form leaves to the other area of the plant in the form of nutrient such as carbohydrates and amino acids due to the difference in osmotic pressures.