Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Phloem and xylem are complex tissues that perform transportation of food and water in a plant. They are the vascular tissues of the plant and together form vascular bundles. They work together as a unit to bring about effective transportation of food, nutrients, minerals and water.

Comparison chart

Phloem versus Xylem comparison chart
PhloemXylem
FunctionTransportation of food and nutrients such as sugar and amino acids from leaves to storage organs and growing parts of plant. This movement of substances is called translocation. Water and mineral transport from roots to aerial parts of the plant.
MovementBidirectional (Moves up or down the plant's stem from "source to sink") Unidirectional (Moves up the plant's stem)
OccurrenceRoots, stems and leaves. transports sucrose to growth (roots and shoots) and storage regions of the plant (seeds fruit and swollen roots) Roots, stems and leaves
Additional FunctionsForms vascular bundles with xylem Forms vascular bundles with phloem and gives mechanical strength to plant due to presence of lignin cells. The lignified secondary wall also makes the xylem waterproof and prevent it from collapsing under the pressure of water transpiration
StructureElongated, tubular shape with thin walled sieve tubes. The sieve tubes have pores at each end in the cross walls and microtubules that extend between sieve elements allowing longitudinal flow of material. Tubular shape with no cross walls which allows a continuous column of water + facilitates more rapid transport within the xylem vessels. There are two types - protoxylem (first formed xylem) + metaxylem (mature xylem) depending on pattern of lignin.
ElementsSieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma (loosely packed resulting in intercellular spaces which allows gas exchange), bast fibers, intermediary cells, Tracheids, vessel elements, xylem parenchyma (loosely packed resulting in intercellular spaces which allows gas exchange), xylem sclerenchyma
Nature of tissueLiving tissue with little cytoplasm but no nucleus/tonoplast. Dead tissue at maturity so it is hollow with no cell contents
ShapePhloem is not star shaped. Xylem is star shaped.
Location in vascular bundlePhloem occur on outer side of the vascular bundle. Xylem occupies the center of the vascular bundle.

Anatomy

Xylem is formed by tracheary elements like tracheids and vessels predominantly. There are a variety of other cells giving it the status of complex tissue. Primary xylem originates from the procambium during primary growth while secondary xylem has its origin in vascular cambium during secondary growth.

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Structure of xylem cells

Phloem has sieve tubes, companion cells, bast fibers as its elements. Phloem originates from meristematic cells in vascular cambium- primary phloem from apical meristem and secondary phloem from vascular cambium.

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Structure of phloem cells

Sap components

Xylem sap contains water, inorganic ions and a few organic chemicals. Phloem sap contains water and sugars.

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Differences between Xylem and Phloem vessels

Transportation

Both phloem and xylem are tubular structures that facilitate easy transportation. In xylem vessels water travels by bulk flow rather than cell diffusion. In phloem, concentration of organic substance inside a phloem cell (e.g., leaf) creates a diffusion gradient by which water flows into cells and phloem sap moves from source of organic substance to sugar sinks by turgor pressure.

Negative pressure facilitates movement of water and minerals in xylem while in phloem positive hydrostatic pressures are responsible for transportation. Hence phloem loading and unloading brings about translocation.

Functions of Xylem and Phloem

Xylem transports water and soluble mineral nutrients from roots to various parts of the plant. It is responsible for replacing water lost through transpiration and photosynthesis. Phloem translocates sugars made by photosynthetic areas of plants to storage organs like roots, tubers or bulbs.

This video explains the biological makeup of xylem and phloem and their role in plant transport.

Girdling

A plant can be killed by stripping away the bark in a circle around the trunk or stem. This destroys the phloem, which is present towards the outside of xylem. This is calle girdling, but such a process has no effect on xylem. This method is used to produce oversized fruits and vegetables.

Types of plant cells

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport?

This picture presents the various types of plant cells, including xylem, phloem, sclerenchyma and collenchyma.

References

  • Xylem - Wikipedia
  • Phloem - Wikipedia

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"Phloem vs Xylem." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2022. < >

What is the difference between xylem and phloem transport?

Xylem transports water and mineral salts from the roots up to other parts of the plant, while phloem transports sucrose and amino acids between the leaves and other parts of the plant.

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem?

Correct answer: Phloem is located in the bark of trees and transports sugars (such as sucrose) and organic compounds to the rest of the plant from the leaves. The other plant vascular tissue is xylem. Xylem is located outer wood of trees, and transports water from the roots to the leaves of trees.

Which of the following is a correct statement about a difference between xylem and phloem transport view available hint S?

Xylem consists of tracheids, vessels, parenchyma, and fibers. Phloem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells, parenchyma, fibers. So, the correct answer is 'Xylem transports water and minerals absorbed by roots whereas phloem transports food prepared by leaves. '