Question

The phloem tissue in plants is responsible for the transport of?
A) Water
B) Water and minerals
C) Sugar
D) All of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: Since plants are immobile, they are provided with tissues made up of dead cells that provide structural strength to adapt in unfavourable environmental situations like strong winds, storms, floods etc. A tissue is a cluster of cells and works together to attain a specific function.

Complete answer:
 Plant tissues are mainly permanent and meristematic tissues. In permanent tissues, these cells have lost their ability to distribute but are specialised to offer elasticity, flexibility and strength to the plant. These tissues can be additionally categorised into:
Simple Permanent Tissue: They are again divided into sclerenchyma, collenchyma and parenchyma based on their function
Complex Permanent Tissue: They include phloem and xylem. Xylem is involved in the transportation of water and solvable constituents. It includes xylem parenchyma, fibres, vessels and tracheids. Phloem is involved in the transportation of food particles (which is in the form of sugar) and it consists of phloem parenchyma, phloem fibres, companion cells, sieve cells and sieve tubes.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: Meristematic tissues are the type of tissues that have the capability to develop by swift division and assist in the major growth of the vegetation. Growth in length and diameter of the plant are the functions carried by these cells. They are divided into Apical meristem, Lateral Meristem and Intercalary Meristem.
- Apical meristem is present at the growing tips or apical of stems and roots. It increases the length of the plant.
- Lateral meristem is present in the radial portion of the stem. Lateral meristem increases the thickness of the plant.
- Intercalary meristem is found at the internodes or they can be found at the base of the leaves also. The intercalary meristem increases the size of the internode.