Plant transport

Study revision notes

Dr. Nihal Gabr

1. Need to have a transport system

Small surface area to volume ratio

So longer diffusion distance
So diffusion alone would be too slow
So diffusion alone would be insuffecient to supply nutrients and oxygen to
meet the energy demand and high metabolic rate .
Surface is too far from the center .

Solution in plants So plants need xylem vessels to transport water and minerals
Phloem to transport assimilates ( sucrose and amino acids )

2. Why plants have a transport system

1. Small surface area to volume ratio…………..so longer diffusion distance … so

diffusion alone would be too slow
A) surface is too far from the center
B) long distance so there would be no sufficient supply of nutrients needed
So plant need xylem vessels to transport water and minerals ‘
Phloem to translocate sucrose and amino acids ( assimilates )

3. How xylem vessels are adapted to transport water and minerals

1. Elongated cells …to form elongated tube for transport

2.No end walls ….to form a continuous tube to minimise resistance of water flow .

3. Hollow dead cells with no

No cytoplasm , no nucleus , and no cell organelles …greater volume of water to flow with
minimal resistance .

4. Cellulose lining ….hydrophilic nature …. allow adhesion of water molecules …to

maintain water column .

5. Lignified walls ( secondary thickening ) ….prevent water loss .

6. Lignified walls ( secondary thickening ) …prevent collapse that might be
caused by hydrostatic pressure gradient in xylem vessels caused by
transpiration .

7. Pits …non lignified parts in xylem vessels allowing lateral movement of

water .

8. Narrow diameter of lumen …….for adhesion , in other words more water

molecules will be in contact with walls of xylem vessels .

9. Relatively large diameter ( large surface area ) : greater volume of water

to flow .
 4 definition of Transpiration

Loss of water vapour from the leaf

Evaporation of the water on cell wall surface of mesophyll cells
Into air spaces of spongy mesophyll
Followed by diffusion of water vapour out of the leaf through stomata
Down water potential gradient

5 compare between evaporation and transpiration

Evaporation Transpiration
Changing water into water vapour Loss of water vapour to the external environment out of leaf
Cause : NEEDS HEAT ENERGY …………………involves diffusion of water vapour down water potential gradient .

Place : water loss from the cell wall Water vapour diffuse out through stomata
of spongy mesophyll cells

Involvement of air spaces : water vapour Water vapour move from air spaces
move to air spaces of spongy mesophyll to out of the leaf through stomata

6 factors affecting transpiration

1. Temperature:
• The increase in temperature will increase rate of tranpisratinon because;
Increase temperature. Increase rate of evaporation of water in cell wall of spongy
mesophyll cells. Thus increasing the water potential gradient of water vapour with
the atmosphere So increase rate of diffusion of water vapour out of stomata.
• also at very high temperature the stomata close so transpiration slows.
2- Wind speed(air movement):
• higher wind speed where wind moves moist air away from the lower surface of the
leaf so maintain a steeper water potential gradient So higher rate of diffusion of
water vapour out through the open stomata.
• Also at very high wind speed the stomata close so transpiration slows.

3- Humidity:
Increased humidity will decrease rate of transpiration As less steep water
potential gradient between the air spaces in the leaf and the outside of leaf.
Lower rate of diffusion of water vapour.

4- light intensity:
• Higher light intensity will increase rate of transpiration as stomata open more
widely to allow gas exchange for photosynthesis .
At very high light intensity the stomata close so transpiration slows down

2
7. Transpiration is an inevitable ( assured) consequences of gas exchange :

Stomata open for GAS EXCHANGE ….To allow CO2 to diffuse into the
leaf and oxygen out
As CO2 is raw material for photosynthesis ……so more water vapour
diffuse out through the open stomata down water potential gradient .

8. Importance of transpiration

1. Cool down the leaves in hot conditions where the water from the walls of
spongy mesophyll cells evaporate ..thus preventing over heating of cells and
reducing their temperature .
2. To creat transpiration stream needed to help movement of water with
dissolved minerals up the plant from root to leaves
8. Compare between the symplast and apoplast pathway :

1. Apopplast pathway is a non living pathway

Symplast is a living pathway
2. Apoplast allow faster rate of water flow ( offer less resistance ) vs
symplast is slower rate of flow with more resistance Symplast
:
3. Compare mechanism Water moves down water potential gradient.
Apoplast 1. Water enters the cytoplasm through cell
1.. Water Moves through cell wall membrane by OSMOSIS ( CYTOPLASMIC
2.. Move from one cell wall to cell wall of PATHWAY )
another cell through intercellular spaces. 2. And water moves into vacuole through tonoplast
4. Or Directly from cell wall to another by OSMOSIS ( vacuolar pathway )
Water moves Down water potential 3. Water move from one cell to another through
gradient plasmodesmata by diffusion .

Explain movement of water by apoplastic pathways

Mechanism …water moves through cell wall down water potential

gradient Due to adhesion of water molecules to the cell wall
( hydrophilic nature of cellulose cell wall ) .

Explain the movement of water by symplast pathway :

Mechanism …involves movement of water down water potential gradient through

cell membrane ( Cytoplasmic pathway ) and through tonoplast ( vacuolar
pathway ) …To allow selectively through cell surface membrane .
 9.How water lost from the leaf to the atmosphere is replaced by water from xylem vessels ?

1. Water vapour diffuse out of the leaf through the stomata down water potential gradient .
2. More water will evaporate from the cell wall of mesophyll cells into air spaces
3. More water will move out of mesophyll cells by
osmosis Through cell surface membrane ….symplast pathway
To the cell wall of spongy mesophyll cells ……by apoplast pathway In leaf
4. Water leaves the xylem vessels through pit into mesophyll cells in the leaf down
water potential gradient

A) symplast pathway …when water enter the cytoplasm of cell by osmosis through
cell membrane ( cytoplasmic pathway ) + enter vacuole by osmosis through
tonoplast ( vacuolar pathway ) .

B) apoplast pathway …. from xylem to cell wall of mesophyll cells by diffusion .

⑲
Down WATER POTENTIAL GRADIENT
Osmosis …cytoplasmic /vacuolar pathway
Diffusion …..apoplastic

10.Describe how water moves from xylem vessels in leaves to the atmosphere
 11. How water moves from the root to stem to leaf in xylem vessels

1. Removal of water from xylem vessels in leaf ,

a) will reduce the hydrostatic pressure at top of xylem vessels
B) so causing a negative pressure in xylem vessels
Stem
2. Creating a transpiration pull
A) thus setting a tension in walls of xylem vessels
B) resulting in transpiration stream ( mass flow )
Where water with dissolved minerals move up in the xylem vessels
in continuous water column from root to leaves

3. Maintained by :
A) cohesion between molecules by formation of hydrogen bonds
where water molecules are attracted to each other forming a
continuous water column .
B) adhesion force between water molecules and the walls of xylem
vessels by hydrogen bonds due to hydrophilic nature of cellulose
and hydrophilic parts of lignin .
C) adaptation of xylem vessels …mention 1
 12. Movement of water from cytoplasm in root hair cells to xylem vessels of the
root

ROOT

C) from
A) across the cortex
B) into the endodermis endodermis into
( both symplast and
( block the
apoplast ) xylem vessels
apoplast ..enter by
symplast ) ( enter by
apolplast
pathway

A) water movement across the Cortex

Water move down water potential gradient

Move across the cortex by :
A) apoplast pathway through cell wall and intercellular spaces
B) symplast pathway ..
• water enter the cytoplasm through cell surface membrane by osmosis
( cytoplasmic pathway )
• vacuolar pathway through tonoplast by osmosis
• From cytoplasm of one cell to another through plasmodesmata by DIFFUSION
B) movement of water from cortex into endodermis

1. Water enters the endodermis down water potential gradient

2. Which has Casparian strip made from Suberin ( thick, waxy , and water proof)
3. BLOCK the APOPLAST pathway and the water is diverted into the cytoplasm through cell surface membrane and
vacuole through tonoplast by SYMPLAST PATHWAY
4.
5. Thus allowing the selection of ions passing to xylem as everything has to pass through cell surface membrane and
tonoplast ( thus plays a role in creating a root pressure ) …and prevent entrance of pathogens .

How root pressure is created ? Where active secretion of ions into xylem vessels in root …..lowering water
potential in xylem vessels ..so more water will be drawn from surrounding root cells into xylem ..thus
increasing water pressure in base of xylem vessels ….so increasing the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom
of xylem vessels ( in root) .

14. Importance of Casparin strip ?

Water enters the endodermis ( down water potential gradient )

Which has Casparian strip ( made from SUBERIN) which thick , waxy and water
proof
Block the apoplast pathway and the water is diverted into the cytoplasm through cell
surface membrane and vacuole through tonoplast by SYMPLASTIC PATHWAY

Thus allow selection of ions passing into xylem vessles as every thing has to pass
through cell surface membrane and tonoplast and prevent entrance of pathogens

Thus playing a role in creating root pressure

 C) from endodermis into xylem vessels

Water will continue to move down potential gradient

1. Across pericycle but symplast and apoplast pathway .
2. Water enter the xylem vessels through pits in cell wall of xylem
by APOPLAST PATHWAY

Why cell membrane of endodermal cells has many transport proteins ?

To allow active transport of ions into xylem vessels ….so lower water potential in xylem vessels than
endodermis …so more water will enter the xylem vessels through pits down water potential
gradient ..thus increasing water pressure at the base of xylem ..creating root pressure .

4. From soil to root hair cells Soil

 In leaf

Stem
From the From the Hydrostatic pressure gradient
xylem to
atmosphere
atmosphere to
xylem
Negative pressure
Root
Transpiration pull
-Xylem Tension on walls of xylem
1, stomata Down water potential gradient
…….mesophyll cells Transpiration stream
2. Evaporate from cell wall A) across cortex …( both
( through pits ) ….by Continuous water column
3. Replace water cell wall symplast and apoplast )
both symplast and Cohesion
4. Replace water from xylem B) endodermis ..( block
apoplast pathway Adhesion
through pits apoplast , pass water by
• cell wall
By both symplast and symplast )
• Evaporate air
apoplast C) from endodermis to xylem
spaces
( apoplast )
• Diffuse out
 Leaf Stem Root

Water moves down water potential gradient between leaves and the roots

Leaf : water vapour diffuse out of the leaf through stomata

Cause more water to evaporate from cell wall of mesophyll cells into air spaces
Lowering water potential inside the mesophyll cells so more water absorbed from
Xylem vessels through pits .

Stem : creating a hydrostatic pressure gradient / negative pressure in xylem vessel

Will creat transpiration pull . Setting a tension on walls of xylem vessels .
So water will move up in a cintinuous water column mainatined by cohesion force
between water molecules due to formation of hydrogen bonds between water
molecules
And adhesion between water molecules and cellulose in cell wall of xylem vessels
( due to hydrophilic nature of cellulose )

Root : water enters by apoplast pathway through cell walls from endodermis into
xylem vessels through pits
 Translocation

Transport of assimilates ( sucrose and amino acids ) dissolved in sap solution

through the phloem tubes from source to sink
Source: site of synthesis
Sink : sink where the assimilates are stored / used for growth / receives
assimilates.

Structure of phloem

1. Sieve tube elements

1. Peripheral cytoplasm ….with few cell organelles including ER, few
mitochondria , but no nucleus and no ribosomes ….allow
translocation / mass flow of sap solution with little resistance as
less space is taken up .

2. Sieve plates ( perforated cell wall ) with sieve pores …allowing mass
flow of sap solution from one element to the next with little resistance
through sieve pores + prevent it from collapse .

3. Strong cellulose cell wall …..to prevent expansion of sieve tubes

4. Sieve tube elements joined end to end ….to form a continuous tube .
5. Have plasmodesmata with companion cells to allow …diffusion of
sucrose into sieve tube ( for easy loading and unloading )

2.Companion cells
1. Many mitochondria …to produce many ATP as a source of
energy for loading of sucrose from source cells

2. Rough endoplasmic reticulum for protein synthesis

3. Plasmodesmata ..with sieve-tube elements allowing diffusion of

sucrose into /out of sieve tube elements.

4. Nucleus and genes coding for required proteins

5.proton pumps in their cell membrane ..pump proton ( hydrogen

ions) out of the cell into cell wall .
 Steps of translocation Loading ….mass flow ….unloading

A) loading of sucrose from source cells

1. Cell surface membrane of the companion cells contain a proton pump .

Where hydrogen ions / protons pumped out of the companion cells by active
transport into CELL WALL / INTERCELLULAR SPACES by APOPLAST
pathway .

2. Build up a hydrogen ion gradient

3. Hydrogen ion diffuse back into companion cells by facilitated diffusion down its
concentration gradient through co transporter .

4. Hydrogen ion co transport sucrose into companion cells by secondary active

transport against the concentration gradient .

5. Increasing concentration of sucrose in companion cells ..so SUCROSE diffuse

into phloem sieve tube through plasmodesmata via symplast pathway .

B) mass flow Movement of a liquid from high pressure to low pressure ..from source to sink

At the source
Increase in the concentration of sucrose in sieve tube elements ….thus lowering
water potential in the sieve tube elements at the source ..so water enter by
osmosis from the surrounding tissues ….increasing hydrostatic pressure in
sieve tubes at the source .

At the sink

Sucrose is unloaded …so the water potential in the sink cells lowered
So water will move from sieve tube elements through companion cells to sink cells by
osmosis …so lowering the hydrostatic pressure at the sink .
Creating a hydrostatic pressure gradient between source and sink …creat a mass flow
of sap solution towards the sink down pressure gradient .
C. Un loading at the sink

1. Sucrose moves out of the sieve tube elements at the sink by BOTH
SYMPLAST AND APOPLAST PATHWAYs

Where it move down its concentration gradient ( as once the sucrose enters the sink cell
its being hydrolysed by invertase enzyme into glucose and fructose ) ..thus decreasing
concentration of sucrose in sink cell and maintaining a steep gradient
To use glucose in respiration to release energy

2. Sucrose unloading requires energy .

Role of plasmodesmata

1. Allow transport of water , sucrose , amino acids , mineral ions , ATP from one cell to another
2. By allowing symplast pathway
3. Example :
A) companion cells to sieve tube elements
B) mesophyll cells ( source ) to companion cells
C) across cells of cortex
4. Allowing communication between cells

Role of complex plasmodesmata

Allow faster diffusion of assimilates

because more symplast pathway
available , so regulation and
selectivity of movement
 Xerophytes

Roots

1. Long and branching to reach deep water ( lower water table )

2. Shallow laterally branching roots near soil surface for absorption of tiniest rain fall
before evaporation .
3. Large number of root hair cells ..increase surface area .

Stem

1. Succulent stem to store water

2. Green containing chlorophyll to absorb light energy and carry photosynthesis.
3. Thick waxy cuticle to reduce WATER VAPOUR LOSS ( CUTICULAR
transpiration)
4. Short to resist the wind
5. Upright to reduce surface area exposed to different environmental factors

Leaves

1. Thick waxy cuticle : reduce water Vapour loss ( reducing cuticular transpiration )
Because its impermeable to water ( water proof )
Increase diffusion distance. Thus lowering rate of diffusion of WATER VAPOUR .

2. Reflective cuticle: reduce exposure to heat from sunlight …so reducing the
evaporation of water from surface of spongy mesophyll cells ..so reduce rate of
diffusion of water Vapour through cuticle.

3. Trichomes : traps water vapou'r …..reducing water potential gradient between

intercellular spaces and out of leaf ..so reducing rate of diffusion of water vapour …
so less water loss by transpiration
4. No stomata on upper surface / fewer stomata found only on lower surface:
Where the upper surface of the leaf is exposed to high light intensity / temp and
air currents so reducing the direct exposure to these different environmental
factors .

5. Thick epidermis : increase diffusion distance so less water VAPOUR loss

Reduce heat exposure

6. Rolled or curled leaves:

A) trap humid air ....so reducing water potential gradient between intercellular air
spaces in leaf and outside so reducing water VAPOUR loss by transpiration.
-

B) Sunken stomata : ( stomata in pits)

creates area of humid air , avoiding the dry wind so.............
Decreasing water potential gradient between substomatal air spaces and leaf
from outside .
7.Leaves needle like structure:
So reducing surface area exposed to different environmental factors( air
current ....) so reducing............

1
f
No plasmodesmata Plasmodesmata with companion cells
Thicker walls Thinner walls
Has pits No pits