Question

What are the components of phloem and their functions?

Answer 1

phloem- it carries food from leaves to all parts of the plant. the materials can move in all the direction
components- i) seive tube
ii) companion cell
iii) phloem fibre
iv) phloem parrenchyma
1) seive tube- They represent the most active food conducting elements in the phloem tissue. Each sieve tube is formed by a series of hollow, cylindrical cells called sieve tube cells arranged one above the other.
2) companion cell- They are more or less spindle shaped cells associated with the sieve tube cells. Each companion cell is found attached to any one lateral surface of a sieve cell.
3) phloem fibre- These fibres are represented by the dead sclerenchyma fibres that are found in between the sieve tubes. They are meant only for providing mechanical support.
4) phloem parrenchyma- They are represented by a group of living parenchyma cells that are found in-between the sieve tubes. They are meant only for storage of organic food.

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