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Transport and water in plants
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Plants move water up from the roots and sugars around the plant through two transport tissues.
Xylem and phloem
Xylem: carries water and mineral ions up from roots to leaves. Dead cells, hollow tubes, lignin.
Phloem: carries sugars (sucrose) up and down the plant. This is translocation and needs energy.
Phloem: carries sugars (sucrose) up and down the plant. This is translocation and needs energy.
Transpiration
Water evaporates from leaves through stomata, pulling more water up the xylem: the transpiration stream.
Guard cells open and close the stomata.
Guard cells open and close the stomata.
Factors affecting transpiration
Transpiration is faster when it is warmer, windier, brighter and less humid.
A potometer measures water uptake.
A potometer measures water uptake.
A bubble in a potometer moves 30 mm in 6 minutes. Find the rate of water uptake.
- Rate = distance ÷ time
- 30 ÷ 6
Answer: 5 mm per minute
Xylem carries water up; phloem carries sugars both ways (translocation). Transpiration is water loss from stomata, faster in warm, windy, bright, dry conditions.
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