IGCSE BIOLOGY

TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
 Content

Section 2
a) Levels of organisation
b) Cell structure
Structures c) Biological molecules
and d) Movement of substances
functions into and out of cells
in living e) Nutrition
organisms f) Respiration
g) Gas exchange
h) Transport
i) Excretion
j) Coordination and response
 Content
h) Transport
2.49 understand why simple, unicellular organisms can
Lesson 5 rely on diffusion for movement of substances in and out
of the cell
2.50 understand the need for a transport system in
multicellular organisms
h) Transport
Flowering plants
2.51 describe the role of phloem in transporting
sucrose and amino acids between the leaves and
other parts of the plant
2.52 describe the role of xylem in transporting water
and mineral salts from the roots to other parts of the
plant
2.53 explain how water is absorbed by root hair cells
2.54 understand that transpiration is the evaporation of
water from the surface of a plant
2.55 explain how the rate of transpiration is affected
by changes in humidity,wind speed, temperature and
light intensity
2.56 describe experiments to investigate the role of
environmental factors in determining the rate of
transpiration from a leafy shoot
Diffusion in living organisms
 Diffusion in living organisms

In:

Food

oxygen
 Diffusion in living organisms

In: Out:

Food Carbon
dioxide

oxygen
Waste
products
 Diffusion in living organisms
Eg. movement of oxygen in Amoeba
 Diffusion in living organisms
Eg. movement of oxygen in Amoeba

High oxygen Low oxygen

concentration concentration
 Diffusion in living organisms
Eg. movement of oxygen in Amoeba

High oxygen Low oxygen

concentration concentration

Oxygen will move from a high concentration outside the

cell to a lower concentration inside the cell. It is moving
from high to low – i.e. down a concentration gradient.
Diffusion in living organisms
Fine for single-celled
organisms
 Diffusion in living organisms
Fine for single-celled
organisms

But for bigger organisms

……….
 Diffusion in living organisms
Fine for single-celled
organisms

But for bigger organisms

……….

Multi-cellular organisms
(both plants and animals)
need transport systems.
 Transport in flowering plants

Water and
mineral
salts.

Roots
 Transport in flowering plants

Water and Sucrose and

mineral amino acids.
salts.
Leaves
Products of
photosynthesis

Roots
 Transport in flowering plants
XYLEM PHLOEM

Water and Sucrose and

mineral amino acids.
salts.
Leaves
Products of
photosynthesis

Roots
 Transport in flowering plants
XYLEM

Water and
mineral
salts.

Roots
Water (and mineral) movement into the
root
Water (and mineral) movement into the
root
More concentrated solution
inside

Less concentrated solution

outside (more DILUTE)
 Water (and mineral) movement into the
root
More concentrated solution
inside

WATER
WATER

Less concentrated solution

outside (more DILUTE)
R

ER
E
AT

T
WA
W
 Water (and mineral) movement into the
root
More concentrated solution
inside

WATER
WATER

Less concentrated solution

outside (more DILUTE)
R

ER
E
AT

T
WA
W

In root hair cells water moves

from the surrounding soil into
the cell by osmosis, along a
concentration gradient
Water (and mineral) movement into the root

Root hair cell with a high

concentration of nitrate ions.

Soil with a lower concentration of

nitrate ions.
Water (and mineral) movement into the root

When substances are moved into a cell where

there is already a higher concentration, then
ENERGY from respiration will be required.
Root hair cell with a high
concentration of nitrate ions.

Soil with a lower concentration of

nitrate ions.
Water (and mineral) movement into the root

When substances are moved into a cell where

there is already a higher concentration, then
ENERGY from respiration will be required.
Root hair cell with a high
concentration of nitrate ions.

Energy will be used to ‘pull’

nitrate ions from the
surrounding soil into the cell

Soil with a lower concentration of

nitrate ions.
Water (and mineral) movement into the root

When substances are moved into a cell where

there is already a higher concentration, then
ENERGY from respiration will be required.
Root hair cell with a high
concentration of nitrate ions.

This is Active Transport

Energy will be used to ‘pull’

nitrate ions from the
surrounding soil into the cell

Soil with a lower concentration of

nitrate ions.
 Water (and mineral) movement into the root

When substances are moved into a cell where

there is already a higher concentration, then
ENERGY from respiration will be required.
Root hair cell with a high
concentration of nitrate ions.

This is Active Transport

Energy will be used to ‘pull’

nitrate ions from the
surrounding soil into the cell
Root hairs provide
roots with a much
Soil with a lower concentration of
greater surface nitrate ions.
area.
 Water movement through the plant
Water (and
dissolved mineral
salts) are moved
from the roots up
through the plant
in xylem vessels.
 Water movement through the plant
Water (and
dissolved mineral
salts) are moved
from the roots up
through the plant
in xylem vessels.
 Water movement through the plant
Water (and
dissolved mineral
salts) are moved
from the roots up
through the plant
in xylem vessels.
 Water movement through the plant
Water (and
dissolved mineral
salts) are moved
from the roots up
through the plant
in xylem vessels.

Xylem vessels contain

a strengthening
material called lignin
and are dead. Water
movement is ‘passive’.
 Leaf structure
Cross section through a leaf
 Leaf structure
Cross section through a leaf

Vascular bundle
containing xylem
vessels and
phloem tubes
 Leaf structure
Cross section through a leaf

Xylem
Vascular bundle
containing xylem
vessels and
phloem tubes

Phloem
Water movement through the plant
 Water movement through the plant
1. Water evaporates from the
internal leaf cells through the
stomata (TRANSPIRATION)
 Water movement through the plant
1. Water evaporates from the
internal leaf cells through the
stomata (TRANSPIRATION)

2. Water passes from xylem

vessels in the stem to leaf cells
by osmosis.
 Water movement through the plant
1. Water evaporates from the
internal leaf cells through the
stomata (TRANSPIRATION)

2. Water passes from xylem

vessels in the stem to leaf cells
by osmosis.

3. This ‘pulls’ the water up

through the xylem to replace
that being lost.
 Water movement through the plant
1. Water evaporates from the
internal leaf cells through the
stomata (TRANSPIRATION)

2. Water passes from xylem

vessels in the stem to leaf cells
by osmosis.

3. This ‘pulls’ the water up

through the xylem to replace
that being lost.

4. Water enters the xylem

vessels in the stem from root
tissue to replace the water that
has moved upwards.
 Water movement through the plant
1. Water evaporates from the
internal leaf cells through the
stomata (TRANSPIRATION)

2. Water passes from xylem

vessels in the stem to leaf cells
by osmosis.

3. This ‘pulls’ the water up

through the xylem to replace
that being lost.

4. Water enters the xylem

vessels in the stem from root
tissue to replace the water that
has moved upwards.

5. Water enters the root hair

cells by osmosis to replace water
which has entered the xylem.
 Water movement through the plant
1. Water evaporates from the
internal leaf cells through the
stomata (TRANSPIRATION)

2. Water passes from xylem

vessels in the stem to leaf cells Evaporation of
by osmosis. water from the leaf
results in water
3. This ‘pulls’ the water up being drawn through
through the xylem to replace the plants from the
that being lost. roots = the
TRANSPIRATION
4. Water enters the xylem STREAM
vessels in the stem from root
tissue to replace the water that
has moved upwards.

5. Water enters the root hair

cells by osmosis to replace water
which has entered the xylem.
 Water loss from the leaf

Stoma
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
Water evaporates
H2O from the stomata ( =
H2O
TRANSPIRATION)
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
The Stomata can open
H2O and close in order to
H2O
control the amount of
water lost.
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
If the plant loses too
H2O much water then it will
H2O
wilt
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
If the air around the
H2O leaf is very humid then
H2O
less water will be lost.
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
On a windy day more
H2O water will be lost from
H2O
the leaf surface.
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
On a hot day more
H2O water will be lost from
H2O
the leaf surface.
Water loss from the leaf

H2O
As light intensity
H2O increases, the stomata
H2O
open more, so more
water is lost.
Sucrose and amino acid movement through
the plant
Sucrose and amino
acids are made in
the leaves. They
are transported to
all parts of the
plant in phloem
tubes.
Sucrose and amino acid movement through
the plant
Sucrose and amino
acids are made in
the leaves. They
are transported to
all parts of the
plant in phloem
tubes.
Sucrose and amino acid movement through
the plant
Sucrose and amino
acids are made in
the leaves. They
are transported to
all parts of the
plant in phloem
tubes.
Sucrose and amino acid movement through
the plant
Sucrose and amino
acids are made in
the leaves. They
are transported to
all parts of the
plant in phloem
tubes.
The cross walls do not
completely break
down, but instead
from sieve plates.
Sucrose and amino acid movement through
the plant
Sucrose and amino
acids are made in
the leaves. They
are transported to
all parts of the
plant in phloem
tubes.
Phloem tubes are
living, and the
movement of sucrose
and amino acids is
thought to be an
active process.
IGCSE BIOLOGY
TRANSPORT IN PLANTS