Question

What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem?

Answer 1

Hint: Xylem transports water from the soil to leaves or other parts of plant and phloem transports food (formed in the leaves) from shoot to roots. In xylem, vessels and tracheids are dead tissues which are responsible for conduction of water.

Complete answer:
a) Xylem transports water and minerals from the soil to leaves and other parts, whereas phloem transports food and organic material formed in the leaves from shoot to roots.
b) Xylem is complex dead tissue and provides mechanical support, whereas Phloem is soft alive tissue.
c) Xylem is located in the centre of the vascular bundle, deep in the plant, whereas phloem is on the outer side of the vascular bundle.
d) Xylem transports only in one direction i.e root to shoot, whereas phloem transports in both directions.
e) Xylem constitutes the bulk part of the plant body, whereas phloem only forms a small part of the plant body.

Additional Information: The conduction of water through xylem is achieved by the transpirational pull. The conduction of water through xylem is unidirectional, and the movement of food through phloem is bidirectional. Xylem is made up of four different types of cells.

Note: Xylem and phloem are found in the vascular bundle of plants (Xylem is located at centre whereas phloem is present on the side). They help in transporting minerals, water, sugars from one part of the plant to the other. Xylem also provides mechanical support to the plant to keep it upright.