Plant transport Flashcards
Name some substances that cells in living organisms need to live
Water
Minerals
Sugars
They also need to get rid of waste substances
In unicellular organisms, how can these substances get in and out of the cell?
They can diffuse directly across the cell membrane. They can diffuse quickly because the distance they need to travel is so short.
In multicellular organisms (like animals and plants) how can the substances get in and out?
They need transport systems
Name two of plants main transport systems
Xylem
Phloem
What is the role of the xylem tubes?
The xylem carry water and mineral salts from the roots up the shoots to the leaves in the transpiration stream
What is the role of the phloem tubes?
The phloem transport sugars like sucrose and amino acids from where they’re made in the leaves to other parts of the plant. This movement is called translocation
What is the role of root hair cells?
To take in water and minerals
Describe a root hair cell
Covered in millions of microscopic hairs
Large surface area for absorbing water
How is water drawn into a root hair cell?
Through osmosis. There is usually a higher concentration of water in the soil than in the plant so the water is drawn into the root hair cell by osmosis.
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is the loss of water from the plant
Where does most transpiration take place?
In the leaves
What is transpiration caused by?
Evaporation and diffusion
Evaporation creates a slight shortage of water in the leaf so more water is drawn up through what?
Xylem vessels
Where in the leaf does gas exchange happen?
Stomata
Because there is more water inside the plant than in the air outside the water escapes from the leaves through the stomata by…..
Diffusion
