Plant Organ System (AQA GCSE Biology: Combined Science)

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Transport in Plants

Plant organs

  • The structure of root hair cells, xylem and phloem are adapted to their functions
  • The roots, stem and leaves are all plant organs that form a plant organ system for transport of substances around the plant

Functions of xylem & phloem

  • Plants contain two types of transport vessel – xylem and phloem
  • Xylem vessels – transport water and minerals (pronounced: zi-lem) from the roots to the stem and leaves
    • It is composed of hollow tubes strengthened by lignin adapted for the transport of water in the transpiration stream

  • Phloem vessels – transport food materials (mainly sucrose and amino acids) made by the plant from photosynthesising leaves to non-photosynthesising regions in the roots and stem (pronounced: flow-em)
  • These vessels are arranged throughout the root, stem and leaves in groups called vascular bundles

vascular-tissue-in-a-dicotyledonous-plant-igcse-and-gcse-biology-revision-notes

Vascular tissue in a dicotyledonous plant

  • Root hair cells are adapted for the efficient uptake of water by osmosis, and mineral ions by active transport
    • Root hairs are single-celled extensions of epidermis cells in the root which increase the surface area of the cells significantly; this increases the rate of the absorption of water by osmosis and mineral ions by active transport
    • They grow between soil particles and absorb water and minerals from the soil
    • Water enters the root hair cells by osmosis
    • This happens because soil water has a higher water potential than the cytoplasm of the root hair cell

structure-of-the-root-igcse-and-gcse-biology-revision-notes

The structure of a root specifically allows it to maximise absorption of water by osmosis and mineral ions by active transport

  • Osmosis causes water to pass into the root hair cells, through the root cortex and into the xylem vessels:

 

pathway-of-water-into-and-across-a-root-igcse-and-gcse-biology-revision-notes

Pathway of water into and across a root

 

  • Once the water gets into the xylem, it is carried up to the leaves where it enters mesophyll cells
  • The pathway is:

root hair cell → root cortex cells → xylem → leaf mesophyll cells

Examiner Tip

If you are asked to identify the xylem or phloem in a diagram showing a cross-section of a root, stem or leaf just remember that xylem is always on the inside and phloem is always on the outside.

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Lára

Author: Lára

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.