Transport in Plants

The vascular tissue which contains xylem and phloem are specialized for water and
nutrients throughout the plant.
The vascular tissues extend from the leaves through the stem to the roots.

Transport of Water:
Xylem is the vascular tissue responsible for the transport of water and mineral salts
from the roots in the soil to the shoot system of the plant.
Functions of the xylem:
o xylem is an important strengthening tissue (xylem provide mechanical support)
o xylem vessels and tracheids transport water and mineral
salts,
o Starch is sometimes stored in the xylem fibers and xylem
parenchyma.
In higher plants, xylem tissue contains four different types of cellular
elements. These are including:
1. Xylem tracheids
2. Xylem vessels (vessel elements)
3. Xylem fibers and
4. Xylem parenchyma
The two types of water-conducting cells in the xylem tissues are-:
a. Tracheids and
b. Xylem vessel
Tracheids

Xylem vessels (vessel elements)

Are dead at maturity, only the cell

walls remains
Are narrow in diameter

Are dead at maturity, only the cell

walls remains
Are wider in diameter

Are long cells

Are shorter cells

Have tapered ends

Have less tapered ends

They have large pits which water

moves from cell to cell mainly through
the pits
(have no perforation plates)

They have perforation plates (palates

with pores) at their ends which
connect from cell to cell forming a
long pipe that enable water to flow
freely through the vessel
They are more efficient in water
conducting due to the presence of

They are mostly less efficient in water

conduction due to the absence of

Course instructor: Ahmed Omaar

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perforation plates

perforation plates. It is through these

vessels that water flow upward to the
leaves.

Xylem vessels:
-

Xylem vessels are the most active water conducting elements in all
higher plants.
They are characterized by the composition of both primary and
secondary walls.
The primary wall is made up of cellulose while the
secondary wall is made up of lignin.
The deposition of lignin in the secondary wall isnt always uniform. As
a result, the xylem vessels exhibit different types of secondary
thickenings. On this basis, xylem vessels can be distinguished into
five types:
1. Annular vessels in which the secondary thickening is in the form of
rings placed more or less at equal distance from each other.
2. Spiral vessels in which the secondary thickenings are present in the
form of a helix or coil.
3. Scalariform vessels in which the secondary thickenings appear in the
form of cross bands resembling the steps of a ladder.
4. Reticulate vessels in which the secondary thickenings are irregular
and appear in the form of a network.
5. Pitted vessels in which the secondary thickenings result in the
formation of depressions on the primary wall called pits.

Mechanisms of Water Transport through the Xylem:

Four important forces combine to transport water solutions from the roots,
through the xylem elements, and into the leaves. These are:
Transpiration

Course instructor: Ahmed Omaar

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 Adhesion
Cohesion
Tension (Surface tension)
Also, root pressure, play an
important role in water transport
through the root hairs.

Transpiration:
The main force which draws water
from the soil and through the plant is
caused by a process called
transpiration.
Transpiration is the process by which
plants lose water vapour by
evaporation into the atmosphere.
The water passes through tiny holes
called stomata and control the size
of the hole.
The water travels up the vessels in
the vascular bundles and this flow of
water is called the transpiration
stream.
(The movement of water in the xylem
from roots to leaves is called the
transpiration stream).

Rate of Transpiration:
o The rate of transpiration depends on a
number of things:
1. Temperature
2. Humidity
3. Wind (Air movement/ windy day)
4. Light intensity (time of day)

Adhesion and Cohesion:

Adhesion and cohesion facilitate the transport of water by bulk flow.

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Adhesion:
-

Adhesion is the attraction of molecules of different kinds to stick together.

Water molecules stick to the cellulose molecules in the walls of the xylem,
counteract the force of gravity and aiding the rise of water within the xylem.
Adhesion of water to the cell walls of the xylem facilitates movement of water
upward within the xylem as there is a strong attraction between water molecules
and the cellulose molecules in the xylem cell walls.
Capillarity action is the result of the adhesion of water to the sides of the xylem
vessels that helps movement of water molecules upwards and the ability to in thin
tubes.

Cohesion:
-

Cohesion is the ability of molecules of the same kind to stick together.

Cohesion is the attractive force between molecules of the same substance. Water
has an unusually high cohesive force due to the hydrogen bonds each water
molecule can potentially make with other water molecules.
It is estimated that waters cohesive force within the xylem gives it a tensile
strength equivalent to that of a steel wire of similar diameter. The cohesion of
water makes it possible to pull a column of xylem sap from above without the
water molecules separating.

Tension (Surface tension):

-

Water molecules are attracted to each other in the liquid phase more than to water
in the gas phase.
The movement of water out of the leaf stomata creates a transpiration pull or
tension in the water column in the xylem vessels.
The pull is the result of water surface tension within the cell walls of the Mesophyll
cells, from the surfaces of which evaporation takes place when the stomata are
open.

Root pressure:
Root pressure can be summarized as follows:
Minerals are actively absorbed at night and pumped into the xylem
tissue.
Water potential of the xylem cells decreases.

Water, therefore, moves in by osmosis.

This increases pressure within the system since the stomata are closed.
Water is forced out of the leaves by guttation. Root pressures of this kind can
push water several centimeters up a plant.
Guttation produces what is commonly known as dew on the leaves.

Course instructor: Ahmed Omaar

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Xylem Fibers

They are found between the vessels and the tracheids.

Fibers, which are usually arranged in threads, are long, slender, and tapered.
Fibers are specialized for support and strengthening.
Some fibers are used commercially, such as for making rope and clothes.

Xylem Parenchyma

This is the only living component in the xylem tissue. It is represented by groups of
parenchyma cells that are found in between the vessels and the fibers.
They are meant for storage of reserve food.
They also provide supporting structures.

Course instructor: Ahmed Omaar

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