What are the differences between the trasport of materials in xylem and phloem?
Answers
Xylem
1) Xylem tissues are the tubular-shaped structure, with the absence of cross walls. This tissue resembles the shape of a star.
2) It is located in the centre of the vascular bundle.
3) Xylem fibres are smaller.
4) They are present in roots, stems and leaves.
5) These tissues move in a Unidirectional. (only in one direction – upward direction).
6) They live with hollow dead cells.
7) The total amount of xylem tissue is more.
8) It consists of tracheids, vessel elements, xylem parenchyma, xylem sclerenchyma and xylem fibres.
9) Transports soluble mineral nutrients and water molecules from the roots to the aerial parts of the plant.
10) Forms vascular bundles with phloem.
11) Provides mechanical strength to the plant and helps in strengthening the stem.
12) It is responsible for replacing the total amount of lost water molecules through transpiration and photosynthesis.
Phloem
1) Phloem tissues are tubular-shaped, elongated, structures with the presence of walls with thin sieve tubes.
2) It is located on the outer side of the vascular bundle.
3) Phloem fibres are larger.
4) They are present in stems and leaves, which later transports and grow in roots, fruits and seeds.
5) These tissues move in a Bidirectional. (both ways – up and down)
6) They live with cytoplasm without the nucleus.
7) The total amount of phloem tissue is less.
8) It consists of four elements: companion cells, sieve tubes, bast fibres, phloem fibres, intermediary cells and the phloem parenchyma.
9) Transports food and other nutrients including sugar and amino acids from leaves to storage organs and growing parts of the plant.
10) Forms vascular bundles with xylem.
11) Translocates the synthesized sugars by the photosynthetic areas of plants to storage organs like roots, bulbs and tubers.
12) It is responsible for transporting proteins and mRNAs throughout the plant.