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English: xylem (blue) carries water from the roots upwards phloem (orange) carries products of photosynthesis from the place of their origin (source) to organs where they are needed (roots, storage organs, flowers, fruits – sink); note that e.g. the storage organs may be source and leaves may be sink at the beginning of the growing season
Xylem sap is mostly made of water. This is because one of the main roles of xylem is to transport water and inorganic nutrients throughout the plant. [13] Water is not the only thing that makes up xylem sap though. Xylem sap contains long-distance signaling hormones, proteins, enzymes, and transcription factors.
When the water pressure within the xylem reaches extreme levels due to low water input from the roots (if, for example, the soil is dry), then the gases come out of solution and form a bubble – an embolism forms, which will spread quickly to other adjacent cells, unless bordered pits are present (these have a plug-like structure called a ...
The cells in vascular tissue are typically long and slender. Since the xylem and phloem function in the conduction of water, minerals, and nutrients throughout the plant, it is not surprising that their form should be similar to pipes. The individual cells of phloem are connected end-to-end, just as the sections of a pipe might be.
There is also a tissue between xylem and phloem, which is the cambium. The xylem typically lies towards the axis ( adaxial ) with phloem positioned away from the axis ( abaxial ). In a stem or root this means that the xylem is closer to the centre of the stem or root while the phloem is closer to the exterior.
Water then diffuses from the soil into the root xylem due to osmosis. Root pressure is caused by this accumulation of water in the xylem pushing on the rigid cells. Root pressure provides a force, which pushes water up the stem, but it is not enough to account for the movement of water to leaves at the top of the tallest trees.
The cell wall of a vessel element becomes strongly "lignified", i.e. it develops reinforcing material made of lignin. The side walls of a vessel element have pits: more or less circular regions in contact with neighbouring cells. Tracheids also have pits, but only vessel elements have openings at both ends that connect individual vessel ...
Xylem and Phloem. A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant, the other being the root. It supports leaves, flowers and fruits, transports water and dissolved substances between the roots and the shoots in the xylem and phloem, engages in photosynthesis, stores nutrients, and produces new living tissue. [1]