Botanique.org

1. Conducting tissues, xylem and phloem

In vascular plants, conducting tissues are xylem and phloem. They conduct different saps and have different structures.

Wednesday 19 January 2005

Xylem and phloem saps

Two saps can be distinguished in vascular plants. They differ by many features: chemistry, conducting tissue and flow powering.

Wednesday 19 January 2005

Xylem structure

Xylem is the tissue that conducts the sap obtained by absorption of water and minerals by roots.

The main function of xylem is to conduct water and minerals from roots to other plant organs. Xylem sap flow is powered by solar transpiration and some physical properties of water such as capillarity.

Wednesday 19 January 2005

Phloem structure

Phloem is the tissue that conduct the sap containing water and amino acids and sugars, especially sucrose, obtained by photosynthesis.

The main function of phloem is to conduct metabolites, amino acids and sugars, mainly sucrose, from metabolite sources (production sites) to metabolite sinks (consumption sites). Metabolite translocation is powered by osmotic pressure.

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