transportation of nutrients and water

Answer 1

Nutrients and water are transported through the plant via two transport tissues: the xylem and phloem.

The xylem is responsible for transporting water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves. It is made up of long tubes made of dead cells and is hydraulically driven. This means that water is constantly being pulled up through the plant due to a process called transpiration, where water evaporates from the leaves. The water molecules at the top of the plant create a negative pressure that pulls up the water from the roots.

The phloem, on the other hand, is responsible for transporting sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves to other parts of the plant, such as the fruits and roots. It is made up of living cells and is controlled by the source-sink relationship. The source is where the sugars and other organic compounds are produced, which are usually the leaves, and the sink is where they are needed, such as the fruits or roots. The phloem moves these compounds by creating a pressure gradient, where it pushes the sugars from the source to the sink.

In summary, the xylem transports water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves, and the phloem transports sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves to other parts of the plant.