CHAPTER 8

Transport in plants
Syllabus
8.1 Transport in plants (PG. 148 - 152)
Learning Objectives -
 State the functions of xylem and phloem
Identify in diagrams and images the position of xylem and
phloem as seen in sections of roots, stems and leaves
Relate the structure of xylem vessel to their function

Key words -
Xylem, Phloem, Lignin
 8.1 Transport In Plants
(Xylem And Phloem)
Why do plants need a transport system?

Water &
Carbon
dioxide
REQUIREMENTS Mineral Ions

It diffuses as the
branching shapes make Water and mineral ions
every cell close to the are both absorbed by
surface the root hair cells and
transported to the
Phloem is the second transport system for sucrose and leaves in the xylem
amino acids. From the leaves to places that need them.
 Xylem Vessels
 Transports water and salts in one direction
from the roots to the leaves
 Xylem vessels are strong enough to provide
support for the entire plant
Its cells join end to end (cell walls disappear)
forming elongated tubes called vessels
Cell walls are thickened with lignin to make it
strong and impermeable
Vessels contain no cytoplasm or nuclei
 Xylem Vessels
 Xylem vessels are adapted to their function in many ways:
Structure How it is related to function
Hollow dead cells without organelles To allow the water to flow easily
No end walls above and below cells To allow a continuous flow of water
Wide To transport large volumes of water
Thick cellulose cell walls To provide support
Cell walls are strengthened with lignin To provide extra support
Lignin is water proof, it prevents water
leaking
Pits are parts where cell walls are thinner To allow sideways movement of water
Answer Key
The cells lack nucleus, cytoplasm and end walls.
They form long tubes to allow free flow of water and mineral ions
from the root to the aerial parts of the stem.
 Their cells get deposited with extra wall material called lignin.
Lignin is waterproof and provides support to the plant
 Phloem
 Transports food substances
wherever they are needed
The cells form elongated tubes
called sieve tube elements
They are alive and have perforations
in the end walls to allow the pass of
substances
The cells lose their nuclei

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtuX7H05tmQ
Functions of xylem and phloem
Xylem Phloem
Substances transported
Direction of movement
Source
(part of the plant where the
substances are supplied)
Sink
(part of the plant where the
substances are used or
stored)
Functions of xylem and phloem
Xylem Phloem
Substances transported Water and mineral ions Amino acids and
sucrose
Direction of movement Upwards Up and down
Source Root Leaves
(part of the plant where the
substances are made)
Sink Stem, leaves, flowers, Stem, root, flowers,
(part of the plant where the fruits fruits
substances are used)
Vascular Bundles
 A group of xylem vessels and phloem
tubes
They help to support the plant
 These vessels are arranged
throughout the root, stem and leaves
in groups called vascular bundles
They have different positions and we
can see them in transverse sections

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 Vascular Bundles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVt_ACnSgOE
Vascular tissue in a
dicotyledonous
plant
Position of xylem and phloem in
sections of roots, stems and leaves
Past paper questions
 8.2 Water uptake (PG. 152-153)
Learning Objectives -
Identify in diagrams and images root hair cells and state their
functions
Sate that the large surface area of root hairs increases the uptake
of water and mineral ions
Outline the pathway of water through the root, stem and leaf
Investigate, using a suitable stain, the pathway of water through
the above-ground parts of a plant

Key words -
Root hair cell, osmosis, active transport
Water Uptake
 Root Hair Cells
 Are single-celled extensions of epidermis cells in the root
 Adaptations
 Hair like structure increases the surface area of the cells and has
numerous mitochondria to provide energy to absorb mineral ions
actively
 How is water absorbed?
 Mineral ions are absorbed actively from the soil to the cytoplasm
This creates a very low water potential in the cytoplasm than the soil
and thus higher concentration gradient
So more water enters the root hair cells faster by osmosis
PAST PAPER
QUESTION
Parts and adaptations of Root
hair cell
Adaptations of root hair cell:

1. Finger like projection to increase the

………….. ……….for absorption.
2. Large …………… to hold more water.
3. Thin ……….. ………..to allow movement
of water and mineral ions.
4. Many ……………….. to provide energy for
active transport.
5. …………… proteins for active transport
of mineral ions.
 Adaptations of root hair cell:

1. Finger like projection to increase the

surface area for absorption.
2. Large vacuole to hold more water.
3. Thin cell wall to allow movement of
water and mineral ions.
4. Many mitochondria to provide energy
for active transport.
5. Carrier proteins for active transport of
mineral ions
Root hair cell as seen under
light microscope
Pathway Of Water Through Root,
Stem And Leaf
1. Water enters the root hair cells by ………. as water
potential of …………… cells is lower than the water
potential of ………
2. Once inside the root hair cell, the water enters the
………… …….. cells as their water potential is lower
than the ………. ……… cell.
3. Water moves from one cortex cell to the next by
…………. along …………. ……………. gradient until it
reaches the root ……….
4. In the xylem, water moves upwards to the stem
and then reaches mesophyll cells of the …………

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Pathway of Water
 Osmosis causes water to pass into the root hair cells, and then
through the root cortex into the xylem vessels
Once the water gets into the xylem, it is carried up to the leaves
where it enters mesophyll cells
So the pathway is:
Pathway of Water
 Investigating Water Movements
In Plants Using A Stain

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Investigating Water Movements
In Plants Using A Stain
 The pathway can be investigated by placing a plant (like
celery) into a beaker of water that has a stain added to it (Ex.
Food Colouring)

 After a few hours, you can see the leaves of the celery turning
the same colour as the dyed water, proving that water is being
taken up by the celery

 If a cross-section of the celery is cut, only certain areas of the

stalk is stained by the colour of the water, showing that the
water is being carried in specific vessels to the stem – these
are the xylem vessels
Past paper question
 8.3 Transpiration
Learning Objectives –
 Define Transpiration
To know the factors that affect transpiration and
investigate the effect of its variation
To be able to know what is wilting
To explain the mechanism by which water moves
upwards in the xylem
Key words -
Wilting, Cohesion, Adhesion, Transpiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-dicqNoODg
- What will happen when we cover a
twig with a polythene bag?
- How did this happen?
 Understanding the Process of
Water Loss in Leaves
 What is Transpiration?
 It
is the process of water vapor loss from
plant leaves
Occur primarily through small openings
in leaves called stomata
Essential for transporting water and
nutrients from roots to the leaves
Stages of Water Flow in Leaves
1. Water is absorbed by roots and
transported up through xylem vessels
2. Water moves by osmosis into the
mesophyll cells of the leaf
3. Water evaporates from cell walls into
the air spaces within the leaf
4. Water vapor diffuses out of the leaf
through the stomata
Highlight the pathway of water
from the xylem to the stomata
 Role of Stomata in Transpiration
What are Stomata?
 Small openings found on the lower epidermis of leaves
Each stomata is surrounded by guard cells that control its
opening and closing

What are Guard cells?

They are located around each stoma (Singular Form of
stomata)
Regulate the opening based on water availability and light
conditions
Mechanism of Stomata Function
How Guard Cells Work?
Guard cells change shape to open
or close stomata
When open, they allow water
vapor to escape and carbon dioxide
to enter
Stomata generally stay open during
photosynthesis to allow carbon
dioxide to enter
Why Transpiration is Unavoidable
During Photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis and Water Loss -
During photosynthesis, stomata open
to let in carbon dioxide, causing water
vapor loss
Plants cannot avoid this water loss
because carbon dioxide entry is
essential for photosynthesis
Importance of Transpiration
Helps in nutrient transport from roots to leaves
Maintains leaf temperature through evaporative cooling
Facilitates gas exchange required for photosynthesis
Transpiration is crucial for plant health despite water loss
The process is regulated by stomata to balance water
retention and gas exchange
Understanding transpiration helps in improving
agricultural practices and water conservation
 Mechanism of transpiration
1. During the day, plants lose water vapour by ………… through the
open ……….. in their leaves.
2. This causes water molecules present in the spongy mesophyll cells
to evaporate into the ……… ……….
3. As a result, water molecules present in the xylem of leaf move to
the spongy mesophyll cells by …………..
4. This creates a suction pressure called …………… ………..in the leaf.
5. ………… forces between the water molecules maintain an unbroken
column of water from the root, through the stem to the leaf.

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Mechanism of transpiration
What will happen to the
plant if it does not get
water from the soil ?
Wilting
Wilting is when the water vapour lost by
transpiration in the leaves is greater than
water absorbed by roots
When more water is lost than absorbed,
the vacuoles in the plant cells lose the turgor
pressure
Cells become flaccid when there is little
water in the vacuole that it cannot exert
enough pressure on the cell wall
Leaves with flaccid cells become limp, and
the stem starts to bend; the plant is
described as being wilted
Past paper question
Which leaf loses more How does the spongy
water? Why? mesophyll affects the rate of
transpiration?

What happens to the rate

of transpiration in summer
season? Why?

What happens to the rate of

transpiration in humid area?
Why?
 Structures of leaf determining
water loss
A leaf with large number of stomata and a thick layer of spongy mesophyll with
many air spaces loses more water than a leaf with fewer stomata and a thin layer
of spongy mesophyll.
Environmental Factors
Influencing Transpiration
1. High Temperature – Increases kinetic energy of water molecules, raising
evaporation rates

2. High Wind Speed – Removes water vapor around the leaf, increasing
diffusion rate

3. High Light Intensity – Stomata open in light to allow carbon dioxide intake,
increasing water loss
4. Low Humidity – Steeper concentration gradient accelerates transpiration
Investigating Water Uptake in
Plants
 An apparatus like the one shown here is used to study the effect of
environmental factors on transpiration
Water is lost from the attached leafy shoot by transpiration
Transpiration in the leaves causes the water in the capillary tube to move left
The rate of transpiration is the distance travelled by the meniscus in the
capillary tube over time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXocZZDDPaw
Which surface of leaf evaporates
more water?
Cobalt chloride papers can also be used to determine transpiration rate by attaching these
papers to the leaves
These papers have blue colour when dry; they turn purple when exposed to water vapour
 The transpiration rate is measured by calculating the time it takes for the cobalt chloride
papers to change their colour from blue to pink
Past paper questions
8.4 Translocation (PG. 159 – 161)
Learning Objectives -
Define translocation
Explain source and sink of a plant
Explain why some parts of a plant may
act as source and sink at the same time

Key words -
Translocation, Source, Sink
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Phloem and Its Function
 Translocation is the bidirectional (both ways) transport of amino acids and
sucrose from the source to the sink through a vascular tissue called phloem

Source: The organ where food is produced (E.g., Leaves)

Sink: The organ where nutrients are used or stored (E.g., Tubers, Seeds)

Flow of Nutrients: From Source to Sink in the form of amino acids and sucrose
Leaves as the Source
 Role of Leaves:
 Leaves are the primary source of nutrients,
producing sugars through photosynthesis
They always act as the source when they are
present
Role of Tubers
In plants like potatoes, tubers store starch as a
nutrient source
When leaves are absent, tubers become the
source to supply energy for respiration
 In some plants, leaves are lost in autumn; in
this case, the source becomes the storage
organs, such as tubers
Once leaves are fully grown, photosynthesis in
the leaves becomes the source of carbohydrates
Role of Seeds
During germination, the seed acts as the source by
supplying stored food to support new growth
This continues until leaves develop and can
photosynthesize
Translocation at different times
during the life of a plant
1. In potato plants, during growing season, the ………….. photosynthesize
and produce glucose and amino acids. These substances are transported
in the ………… to the roots where they are stored.
2. This way leaves act as ……… and the roots as ……….
3. In the spring season when the plant is unable to photosynthesise,
substances are transported upwards in the phloem from the ……….. to
the growing tips.
4. Now ………. act as source and the growing shoots and the leaves as ……….
Translocation at different times
during the life of a plant
1. In potato plants, during growing season, the leaves
photosynthesise and produce glucose and amino acids. These
substances are transported in the phloem to the roots where
they are stored.
2. This way leaves act as source and the roots as sink.
3. In the spring season when the plant is unable to
photosynthesise, substances are transported upwards in the
phloem from the roots to the growing tips.
4. Now roots act as source and the growing shoots and the leaves
as sinks.
Changing Sources and Sinks
Dynamic Roles:
Source and sink roles can switch depending on the plant’s stage
and nutrient needs
Example: Leaves are a source when present, but in autumn,
storage organs like tubers can become the source.
Past paper questions
Label the tissue you
have shaded
Transpiration experiment using Vaseline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc0nUIug3Jo&list=TLPQMzExMDIwMjAkV89UE7KsnA&inde
x=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V
cR1LNUc5xA

Leaf Treatment Appearance after the Reason

experiment
A Vaseline on both upper and lower
surfaces
B Vaseline on lower
C Vaseline on upper surface
D no grease is applied.
Leaf Treatment Appearance after the Reason
experiment
A Vaseline on both upper and No sign wilting Vaseline prevented water loss from
lower surfaces stomata
B Vaseline on lower Slight wilting Some water is lost through few stomata
on the upper surface
C Vaseline on upper surface Significant wilting More water is lost through many
stomata on the lower surface
D no grease is applied. Dry and shriveled A lot of water is lost through stomata on
both upper and lower surfaces