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Function of phloem in the plant is.....
A. Transport of water
B. Transport of food
C. Photosynthesis
D. Growth

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Last updated date: 22nd Mar 2024
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MVSAT 2024
Answer
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Hint: Phloem and xylem are the vascular tissues of the plants. Non-green parts of the plants cannot synthesize organic compounds. Phloem delivers them organic compounds from the photosynthesizing parts.

 Complete answer:
We will first learn about the photosynthesis and growth of the plants.
Leaves of green plants have chloroplasts in their cells, the double membrane-bound organelles, that house chlorophyll pigment and are the site for photosynthesis. The organic compounds formed during photosynthesis serve as a source of energy for plants and help in growth. Growth, the increase in length or width of the plant part, is mainly the function of the meristem. Apical and lateral meristems are responsible for the growth in length and width respectively.
Now, let's discuss what are the vascular tissues?
They are the tissues involved in the transport of materials within the plants.
We know that the roots of the plants absorb water and minerals from the soil. These substances must be transferred to stem, leaves, seeds, and fruits. Likewise, the green-parts, mainly leaves, of the plants perform the process of photosynthesis and synthesize the organic compounds. These organic compounds serve as food for plants. However, the organic compounds formed during photosynthesis must be transported to other parts of the plants that cannot photosynthesize.
In plants, xylem and phloem are the two types of vascular tissues.
Xylem transport water and minerals from roots to the other plant parts while phloem tissues translocate the organic compounds, mainly starch, within the plants. Here, we should know that the direction of the translocation of organic compounds in the phloem can be upward or downward, depending on the source-sink relationship.
For example, when the rate of photosynthesis in leaves is higher and they serve as source organs from where organic compounds are translocated downward to the stem and roots (sink) via the phloem. On the contrary, when new leaves grow, they obtain the stored nutrients from other parts and the direction of phloem translocation would be upward.

So, the correct answer is B. Transport of food.

Note: One should understand that the substances other than sugars are also translocated by phloem. Some of these substances are amino acids, organic acids, proteins, hormones, and certain minerals. We should also know that being a tissue, phloem is composed of a group of cells. Typically, phloem is composed of sieve tube elements, companion cells, phloem parenchyma, and phloem fibers. The sieve tube elements are the main conducting elements involved in the transport of food while companion cells assist them.