Two tubes

The idea

Plants have two independently organised conducting tubes: xylem moves water and minerals from the soil, and phloem transports products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Two roads

A plant has to move water and minerals from the soil, and also food made in the leaves.

Do you think the same tube carries both?

• No, there are two separate tubes
• Yes, one tube for both
• There are no tubes

Xylem or phloem?

Sort each description: xylem or phloem?

Two independent tubes

Plant transport systems move energy stores from the leaves and raw materials from the roots. These two pathways are built as two independently organised conducting tubes. The xylem moves the water and minerals that come from the soil. The phloem carries the products of photosynthesis from the leaves, where they are made, to the rest of the plant.

Plants have two independently organised conducting tubes: xylem moves water and minerals from the soil, and phloem transports products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Notes

Xylem moves water and minerals from the soil; phloem transports products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts: two independent tubes.

Check yourself

Which tissue moves water and minerals from the soil?

What does phloem transport?

How many independently organised conducting tubes do plants have for transport?

Answer: 2

The book names two: xylem and phloem.

The products of photosynthesis are moved from ... to other parts of the plant.

• Phloem. Phloem transports the products of photosynthesis from the leaves.
• Stomata. Stomata are tiny pores on the leaves where gases are exchanged.
• Xylem — correct. Yes!
• The products of photosynthesis — correct. Yes!
• Water and minerals from the soil. This is the job of the xylem.
• Oxygen from the air. Gases are exchanged by diffusion through stomata and intercellular spaces.
• the roots, where they are made. The leaves, which contain chlorophyll, are where the products of photosynthesis are made.
• the leaves, where they are made — correct. Yes!
• the soil. The soil supplies water and minerals, which the xylem moves.