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Plants need living phloem in order to transport sugars.

Unit 3 - Xylem and Phloem

GCSE Biology explores how xylem and phloem transport water, minerals and sugars around a plant, keeping leaves supplied and roots, stems and storage organs alive.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Water is pulled up the xylem in a continuous column. This is driven by transpiration from the leaves and the cohesion of water molecules.

In GCSE Biology, xylem and phloem are studied as plant transport tissues. Xylem moves water and mineral ions from roots to leaves, while phloem carries dissolved sugars to growing and storage tissues.

Key Terms

Xylem: A plant transport tissue that carries water and dissolved mineral ions from the roots up through the stem to the leaves.
Phloem: A transport tissue that moves dissolved sugars and other substances from leaves to the rest of the plant.
Translocation: The movement of sugars and other solutes through the phloem to where they are needed or stored.

Frequently Asked Questions (click to see answers)

What is the difference between xylem and phloem in GCSE Biology?

Xylem transports water and mineral ions from roots to leaves in one direction, while phloem transports sugars and other solutes in both directions between leaves and other parts.

How does water move up the xylem against gravity?

Water moves up the xylem because transpiration pulls water from the leaves, and cohesion and adhesion between water molecules and xylem walls help maintain a continuous column of water.

What substances are transported in the phloem?

Phloem mainly transports sucrose and other dissolved organic molecules, such as amino acids, from photosynthesising leaves to growing tissues and storage organs like roots and fruits.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Transpiration involves the movement of...

oxygen

ions

sugar

water

The water contains dissolved ions from the soil

2 .

Do plants need living phloem in order to transport sugars?

Yes

Some plants do but most don't

Most plants do but some don't

Phloem cells are essential to the process of translocation - the movement of food and amino acids through the plant

3 .

Can Xylem vessels be blocked by air bubbles?

Yes

In some plants but not in most

In most plants but not in some

They are extremely tiny and so the forces of surface tension are high enough to 'glue' the air bubble to the walls of the xylem vessels, blocking the transpiration stream

4 .

If we use a poison which inhibits respiration, which of the following processes is not blocked?

Movement of sugars

Active transport

Synthesis of sugars

Movement of mineral ions and water

Xylem is dead tissue, so respiration is not taking place in the xylem. It can continue to function

5 .

Water leaves the plant leaves through...

stromata

stomata

tomato

sonata

Stomata are the tiny holes found on the underside of leaves and they let the water vapour out of the plant

6 .

Which specialised plant tissue transports dissolved sugars?

Xylem

Phloem

Leaves

Roots

Leaves and roots are plant organs - not tissues

7 .

This plant tissue is woody and dead.

Phloem

Mesophyll

Xylem

Storage

The xylem was made from living cells which laid down strong woody substances in the cell walls and became the tubes and vessels

8 .

Name the special tissue which transports water and mineral ions.

Phloem

Storage

Xylem

Cardiac

Cells in the xylem tissue are dead

9 .

Name the process by which mineral ions move from the soil into the root.

Osmosis

Active transport

Hydrofoil

Diffusion

The concentration of minerals in the water of the soil is very low and is higher in the root hair cells. Uptake of mineral ions therefore takes place against a concentration gradient, so it must be active transport

10 .

Xylem is found in the...

roots only

roots and stem

roots, stem and leaves

flowers

Water and minerals from the soil are transported from the roots to the leves where they are used in photosynthesis and the synthesis of amino acids

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Transport systems plants

Author: Donna Davidson (GCSE Biology Teacher & Examiner, Quiz Writer)