MF009 5C Transportation James L2
MF009 5C Transportation James L2
MF009 5C Transportation James L2
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Transportation
Reproduction
Photosynthesis
James L,
General Biology I (MF009)
Foundation in Science
Transport in Plants
Vascular plants depend on the distribution of
water, dissolved mineral ions and organic
compounds to its cell.
Plants distribute water and dissolved mineral
ions through water-conducting tubes of xylem.
Plants distribute organic compounds through
sieve tubes of phloem.
An overview of transport in a vascular plant.
Structure of Vascular Tissues
Xylem
Water and mineral ions are transported from the
roots to the aerial parts of the plant in xylem
tissues.
These tissues consist of tracheids, vessels, fibers
and parenchyma cells.
Tracheids – elongated single cells with lignified
walls and tapered ends. The ends overlap with
those of adjacent tracheid, and pits allow water to
pass from one tracheid to the next.
Vessels elements – found most in flowering
plants and are long tubular lignified wall structure
with perforation plates at each end. Vessel
elements placed end to end form a completely
hollow pipeline from the roots to the leaves.
Structure of Vascular Tissues
Phloem
Sucrose ( organic solute) are products of
photosynthesis is dissolved in water to form sap
and are transported through phloem.
There tissues contain sieve tubes, sieve plates,
companion cells, fibers and parenchyma cells.
Sieve tubes –Sieve tube elements linked end-to-
end to form sieve tubes and are separated by
perforated structure called sieve plates.
Companion cells –They retain their nucleus,
ribosomes and other organelles. To supply
energy for sucrose loading.
Sieve-tube members. Stacked end to end, sieve-tube members
form a sieve tube that conducts organic molecules throughout a
plant. Each sieve-tube member has sieve plates on its end walls
and at least one companion cell.
Structure of a
longitudinal section of a
sieve tube element and
companion cell, as seen
by an electron
microscope.
Root Pressure
Plants constantly lose water by
transpiration, all must be replaced Guttation
sink.
Phloem transport by pressure
flow. Phloem sap flows from
sources to sinks. (1) A
photosynthesizing leaf cell is a
source because it produces
sugars. (2) Sugars are actively
transported into a sieve tube
during phloem loading. (3) As
sugar concentration increases in
the sieve tube, water is drawn in
from nearby xylem vessels. This
influx of water raises the pressure
in the sieve tube at the source. (4)
At sinks (in this example, a
storage parenchyma cell is a sink
because it stores sugars), sugars
are actively unloaded, lowering
sugar concentration in the sieve
tube and (5) causing water to exit
the phloem tube and be recycled
back to the xylem or drawn into
surrounding cells.
Loading of
sucrose into
the phloem at
a source