Plant Transport Flashcards
Why do plants need a transport system?
Multi-cellular plants have a LOW surface area to volume ratio meaning they cannot solely rely on diffusion for the transport of all their molecules. Different areas of the plant will make different products so active transport is required to transport these products to where they are needed.
Examples of the transport system being used in plants:
The green parts of plants (chlorophyll) produce glucose (carbohydrate) and oxygen during photosynthesis, these are used for aerobic respiration. Certain parts of the plant such as the roots are unable to photosynthesise but may still require glucose and oxygen due to their metabolic rate.
- Mineral ions are transported from the roots to other parts of the plant eg. nitrate which makes amino acids.
-Hormones are transported around the plant.
What is a dicotyledonous plant?
Plants which have two cotyledons (seed leaves). They will have a different transport system to monocotyledonous plants.
What are herbaceous plants?
they are often fast-growing and short-lived, such as geraniums. Herbaceous plants do not have a woody stem like trees.
Summary of the xylem:
A dead vascular tissue which carries water and MINERAL IONS from roots to stem to leaves.
Summary of the phloem:
An alive vascular tissue which carries ORGANIC molecules such as glucose up and down the plant.
