Transport in Plants Ws | PDF | Leaf | Plant Stem - Free Printable

Problem Overview:

The worksheet is about the movement of water in plants, specifically focusing on the properties of xylem and phloem cells. The task involves filling in a table comparing the properties of xylem and phloem cells.

---

Solution:

#### Step 1: Understand the Roles of Xylem and Phloem
- Xylem: Responsible for transporting water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the shoots and leaves.
- Phloem: Responsible for transporting organic nutrients (such as sugars) throughout the plant.

#### Step 2: Fill in the Table

Here is the completed table with explanations for each entry:

| Property | Xylem | Phloem |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Cell structure | Dead, hollow cells arranged end-to-end; no cytoplasm or nucleus. | Living cells connected by tiny holes (plasmodesmata). |
| Materials transported | Water and dissolved minerals (e.g., ions like calcium, magnesium). | Organic substances (e.g., sugars, amino acids, hormones). |
| Materials transported from | Roots | Leaves and other photosynthetic tissues. |
| Materials transported to | Shoots and leaves | Roots and other non-photosynthetic tissues. |
| Materials travel in one or both directions? | One direction (upward from roots to shoots and leaves). | Both directions (depending on the plant's needs). |

---

Explanation of Each Entry:

1. Cell Structure:
- Xylem: Xylem cells are dead at maturity. They form a continuous network of hollow tubes that allow water and minerals to move upward through the plant. These cells have thickened cell walls made of lignin, which provides strength.
- Phloem: Phloem cells are living at maturity. They consist of sieve tube elements connected by plasmodesmata (tiny holes), allowing the transport of organic substances between cells.

2. Materials Transported:
- Xylem: Transports water and dissolved minerals absorbed by the roots. These minerals include essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
- Phloem: Transports organic substances such as sugars (produced during photosynthesis), amino acids, and hormones throughout the plant.

3. Materials Transported From:
- Xylem: Materials are transported from the roots, where water and minerals are absorbed from the soil.
- Phloem: Materials are transported from the leaves and other photosynthetic tissues, where sugars are produced during photosynthesis.

4. Materials Transported To:
- Xylem: Materials are transported to the shoots and leaves, where they are used for growth and other metabolic processes.
- Phloem: Materials are transported to various parts of the plant, including roots and storage organs, depending on the plant's needs.

5. Direction of Material Movement:
- Xylem: Movement is unidirectional (upward) from the roots to the shoots and leaves.
- Phloem: Movement is bidirectional. Sugars can move from leaves to roots or from roots to leaves, depending on the plant's requirements (e.g., during different seasons or stages of growth).

---

Final Answer:

The completed table is as follows:

| Property | Xylem | Phloem |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Cell structure | Dead, hollow cells arranged end-to-end; no cytoplasm or nucleus. | Living cells connected by tiny holes (plasmodesmata). |
| Materials transported | Water and dissolved minerals (e.g., ions like calcium, magnesium). | Organic substances (e.g., sugars, amino acids, hormones). |
| Materials transported from | Roots | Leaves and other photosynthetic tissues. |
| Materials transported to | Shoots and leaves | Roots and other non-photosynthetic tissues. |
| Materials travel in one or both directions? | One direction (upward from roots to shoots and leaves). | Both directions (depending on the plant's needs). |

Final Answer: \boxed{\text{See table above}}