Plant Transport Flashcards
Function of the xylem
Transports water and inorganic ions around the plant. Water is needed for photosynthesis and turgidity
What are inorganic ions
Nitrate ions for proteins, magnesium ions for chlorophyll, potassium ions for stomatal opening and closing.
What direction does the xylem travel?
Root to leaf
Where does the the phloem travel?
Leaf to root mostly but it is also bi-directional
What does phloem do?
Transport sucrose and other organic solutes. For example amino acids, sucrose, fatty acids and glycerol. These are all linked to photosynthesis.
What is the apoplast pathway?
It Moves along the cell walls and 80% of water uses this pathway
What is the symplast pathway?
It goes through the cytoplasm and plasmodesmata
What is the vacuolar pathway?
It goes through the vacuoles and cytoplasm
Describe the conditions at a root hair cell?
There is a high water content in the soil and lots of aquaporins through which osmosis can occur. There is also a large surface area created by the root hairs on the root and lots of mitochondria for active transport of nutrients
How does water enter a root hair cells by osmosis?
The high solute concentration in the vacuole of the cells and the high water content in the soil means that water enters the root hair cells by osmosis from high water potential to low water potential.
When do ions get actively transported into the root?
In a drought or when the water is frozen
How can the water potential gradient be increased?
Ions can be actively transported into the root hair cell to lower the water potential and increase the water potential gradient.
How many ways does the water move through the root ?
3
What is the casparian strip?
The strip of suberin in the cell walls of the endodermis that surrounds the endodermal cell. It prevents water and minerals from seeping between cells so that in order to get to the vascular cylinder, water and minerals must pass through the cell membrane.
Where do the three pathways reach up to?
The apoplast and vacuolar pathways stop after the endodermis
What does the casparian strip do?
It prevents movement through the apoplast pathway . Therefore the only water that moves through the endodermis is via the symplast pathway as there are no longer any vacuoles
How does the water enter the xylem?
Via the apoplast pathway as there is no cellular contents in the xylem….?
What is root pressure?
The greater force of water flow into and up the xylem (positive hydrostatic pressure)
How does root pressure happen?
Solutes ( nitrate ions / ammonium ions) diffuse with the concentration gradient through the apoplast pathway. They are then actively transported (selective ion uptake) into the endodermis to set up a steeper water potential gradient. Therefore more water flows into the endodermis and through the xylem, causing a propulsion called root pressure.
Why is a continuous flow of water able to move through the xylem?
It is made of dead cells aligned end to end, no end walls , no cell contents including the nucleus or cytoplasm. Lignin thickening also prevents Walls from collapsing and is waterproof. Pits in the lignified walls allow water to move sideways from one vessel to another
How is the transfer of water between cells the facilitated with the xylem?
Tracheids are a semi-living tissue that have tapered ends which fit together and pits which allow transfer of water between cells. They also conduct water but are not as well adapted as the vessels for the function.
Other xylem structures
The xylem also contains fibres for support - DO NOT transport water - and parenchyma cells for packing tissue
What 4 types of structure are phloem made out of ?
Phloem cells, companion cells, fibres for support and parenchyma cells for packing tissue
What additional feature do phloem have in them?
Sieve plates