Question

If xylem vessels of a plant are plugged:
A. The leaves will turn yellow
B. No food will be made
C. The plant will wilt (shrivel)
D. The plant will continue to grow

Answer 1

Hint: Removal or plugging of xylem vessel or some other plant parts can cause severe issues in its growth. Xylems are primarily responsible for the transport of water and mineral molecules from root to tip. If xylem vessels are blocked, then it might result in loss of some other functions occurring in plants.

Complete answer:
Xylem transports water unidirectionally from roots to tips of the plant. When xylem vessels are plugged or blocked, then it might result in loss of availability of water in surrounding receiver cells; which ultimately reduces the turgor pressure. This will lead to loss of rigidity of cells and lead to wilting. This will occur when turgor pressure falls to zero, in non-lignified plant cells.
Wilting also reduces water loss, as it makes plants shrivel. This will make leaves expose less surface area during transportation. The xylem vessels are responsible for the transportation of water. Without the water transportation growth becomes stunned, and the plant will wilt.
Option A leaves will turn yellow because of moisture stress, which could be because of the over or under-watering conditions. So, this option is not correct.
But, the photosynthesis process still works. Therefore, option B -no food will be made is incorrect,as phloem is responsible for carrying food material and nutrients, etc. phloem functions bidirectionally.
Option D. The plant will continue to grow will too is incorrect , because if one of any plant organs is blocked or plugged, then some function must be affected.

Therefore, the correct answer is option C. That is the plant will shrivel means it shows wilting.

Note:
The xylem vessels are responsible for the transportation of water. Without the water transportation growth becomes stunned, and the plant will show wilting. But, the photosynthesis process still works.