1.

7
Understanding
the Transport of
Substances in
Plants

Why is it essential for substances

to be transported in plants?
Water-

acts as a solvent and acts as a

reactant in cell metabolism
Mineral ions- required for chlorophyll
synthesis, healthy plant growth and
development.
Organic food materials- need to be sent
to the growing regions, storage organs
and other parts.

 Small

multicellular
plants have a
large TSA/V ratio
and short distance
for substance
diffusion.
They do not
require an internal
transport system

Large

flowering
plants have a
smaller TSA/V
ratio and
substances have
to move farther.
Transport is
carried out by an
internal system of
tubes.

Vascular Tissues in Stems, Roots and

Leaves

Two types:
Xylem
Transports water and dissolved mineral salts
Provides mechanical support to woody plants
Phloem
Transports organic substances

The stem

The root

Cross Section of Dicot Root

The leaf

Structure of Xylem in Relation to

Transport
Four

types :
a)xylem vessels
b) tracheids,
c) fibres
d)parenchyma

How are xylem vessels and

tracheids adapted to their
functions?
Xylem

vessels
consist of long,
hollow, continuous
tubes
This allows water
to flow upwards
continuously

Walls

are
thickened with
lignin deposits
This prevents the
collapse of the
vessels
Also provides
mechanical
support

 Conifers

and ferns do not have

xylem vessels.
They have tracheids which are less
efficient In conducting water
Tracheids have pointed ends. The
end walls break down in the pits
and allow water to pass from cell
to cell.

Structure of Phloem in Relation

to Transport
Four

types:
a) Sieve tube
b) Companion cells
c) Parenchyma
d) Fibres

Sieve tube
A

cylindrical tube consisting of elongated living

sieve tube cells.
The end walls are perforated by small pores
They look like sieves and are called sieve plates
Long strands of cytoplasm pass through the
pores to allow substances to pass through
In a mature sieve tube, the nucleus degenerates
A thin layer of cytoplasm lining the cellulose wall
allows flow of liquid through the sieve tube

Companion cell
Found

only in flowering plants

Has a nucleus, dense cytoplasm and
many mitochondria
Help to transport manufactured food
from the leaf cells into the sieve tubes
Provide the sieve tube cells with
proteins, ATP and other nutrients

1.8 The
Transport of
Organic
Substances
and Water in

Translocation
o

Translocation is the two-directional transport,

upwards or downwards, of soluble organic
food materials by the phloem from the leaves
to other parts of the plant
Sugar and amino acids are transported to
growing regions for growth and development,
to cells for metabolism while the excess is
stored in organs such as roots.

Transpiration

Transpiration is the loss of water in the form

of water vapour from a plant to the
atmosphere.
Most of the water is lost through the stomata
of the leaves.
About 90% of the water that a plant absorbs
is lost in transpiration; the other 10% of the
water is used in the chemical reactions in the
plant tissues.
Transpiration creates a transpirational pull
that draws water and dissolved mineral salts
from the roots to the leaves.

Water is used for photosynthesis

while mineral salts are used for
cell activities.
Water that is carried to the cells
keep them turgid to give support
to leaves and young stems.
Evaporation of water from the
leaves requires latent heat and
keeps the plant cool in hot
weather.

Pathway of Water from

the Soil to the Leaves

Movement of water through the roots

 Mineral

ions are pumped from the root cells

into the solution in the xylem vessels.
The vessels become more concentrated
Water enters the xylem from the roots through
osmosis
This creates an upward force called root
pressure
This helps to push water up to a certain height
in plants
Other factors involved are capillary action and
transpirational pull

Movement of water through the stem

The upward movement of water through
the xylem vessels is because of
capillarity.
Capillarity is due to combined forces of
cohesion and adhesion
Water molecules form a continuous water
column in the xylem vessels due to
cohesion
Adhesive forces between water
molecules and xylem walls enable water
to move up the narrow xylem vessels

Movement of water from the

leaves to the atmosphere

Opening and Closing of

Stomata
Each

stoma has a pair of kidney-shaped

guard cells surrounding a stomatal pore
Guard cells have thinner elastic outer
walls and thicker, less elastic inner walls
They have a nucleus, cytoplasm and
chloroplasts

o
o

H2O
K+

o
o

During the day,

photosynthesis takes place
Glucose is produced,
increasing osmotic
pressure in cells
Potassium(K+)ions are
actively transported from
the epidermal cells into the
guard cells
Accumulation of potassium
ions increases osmotic
pressure in guard cells
Water enters by osmosis
into the guard cells
The guard cells become
turgid, curve outward and
the stomata open

o
o

H2O
o
o
o

K+

At night, photosynthesis
does not occur
Potassium ions move out of
the guard cells into the
epidermal cells
Osmotic pressure in the
guard cells decreases
Water diffuses out into the
epidermal cells
The guard cells become
flaccid and the stomata
close.

Factors Affecting the

Rate of Transpiration

Light Intensity
oStimulates

stomatal opening and

increases rate of transpiration
oSunlight provides heat energy for the
leaves
oIncreases evaporation of water
oThe reverse is true in the dark

Temperature
o
o

o
o

High temperature increases rate of

transpiration
Increasing temperature increases the
kinetic energy of water molecules,
making them move faster through the
stomata
Reduces the humidity of the surrounding
air
The above effects are reversed by low
temperatures

Relative humidity
High humidity
oAir

is saturated
with water vapour
oWater is unable to
evaporate from cells
oTranspiration rate
decreases

Low humidity
o

Increases the
concentration
gradient of water
between leaves
and surrounding air
Transpiration rate
increases

Air humidity
Moving

air carries water vapour away

rapidly outside the stomata
This is so that more water molecules
can diffuse to the surroundings
The rate of transpiration increases in
windy conditions
When there is little air movement, water
vapour accumulates around the stomata
and the transpiration rate reduces

THE END