How are Water and Minerals Transported in Plants NCERT

Plants need water and nutrients to grow and survive, just like humans do. However, unlike human beings, plants do not move from place to place to find these resources. Instead, they have a unique mechanism of transporting water and minerals throughout their bodies through a system of xylem and phloem.

Xylem Transport

The xylem is a system of specialized cells that is responsible for the transport of water and dissolved minerals from the roots of the plant to the rest of the body. This system works like a network of pipes that run through the entire plant, delivering water and nutrients to each individual cell. The process of water and mineral transport through xylem is called ascent of sap, and it is driven by a combination of transpiration and root pressure.

Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates from the leaves of a plant, creating a negative pressure or tension that pulls water from the roots up through the xylem vessels. Root pressure, on the other hand, is the force exerted by the roots as they absorb water from the soil, pushing water up through the xylem vessels.

Phloem Transport

The phloem is another system of specialized cells that is responsible for the transport of dissolved sugars and other organic compounds from the leaves of the plant to the rest of the body. This system also works like a network of pipes, but instead of delivering water and minerals, it delivers energy-rich sugars that are produced during photosynthesis in the leaves.

The movement of sugars and other organic compounds through the phloem is called translocation, and it is driven by a process called pressure flow. In this process, sugars are loaded into the phloem cells at source, usually the leaves, creating a high pressure region. This pressure forces the sap to move from the source towards the sink where the sugars are needed. Once the sugars reach the sink, they are either used immediately or stored for later use.

Conclusion

The transport of water and nutrients in plants is a complex process that involves the coordinated actions of the xylem and phloem systems. Water and minerals are transported through the xylem from the roots to the rest of the plant, while sugars and other organic compounds are transported through the phloem from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Understanding how these systems work is essential for understanding how plants grow and thrive, and it is a key area of study in plant biology.