Transport in Plants

• Plant organ system involved in transport

  Tissues and structures that enable the movement of essential substances, such as water, minerals, and organic compounds, throughout the plant
• Plant transport


  Movement of essential substances throughout the plant
• Key structures responsible for transport in plants

  • Root system
  • Shoot system
• Root system


  • Plays a crucial role in water and mineral absorption from the soil
• Shoot system


  • Mainly responsible for the upward movement of water and nutrients
• Root hairs


  Specialized structures that greatly increase the surface area of the roots
• Osmosis


  Occurs when there is a difference in solute concentration between the soil and the root hairs, allowing for absorption of minerals and water
• Root cortex


  Made up of parenchyma cells, transports minerals and water to the xylem vessels
• Xylem vessels


  Principal conducting tissues responsible for the transportation of water, dissolved minerals, and other substances required for plant growth
• Movement of water and minerals through the xylem

  1. Capillary action

  2. Transpiration pull
• Phloem


  Responsible for the transportation of organic compounds, such as sugars and amino acids, throughout the plant
• Translocation


  Movement of substances through the phloem, relying on pressure gradients created by active loading and unloading of sugars, requiring energy in the form of ATP
• The plant organ system involved in transport is a complex and coordinated system that enables the movement of crucial substances within plants