Class Notes
Transport in Plants
Grade 8
Topics to Be Covered
Transport in Plants
1 1.1 Xylem and its components
1.2 Phloem and its components
Water Absorption by Roots
2 2.1 Root hair and its functions
2.2 Mechanisms for Absorption
of Water through Roots
2.3 Root Pressure
Transpiration
3 3.1 Factors Affecting the Rate of
Transpiration
3.2 Importance of Transpiration in
Plants
3.3 Uses of Water in Plants
Macronutrients and Micronutrients
4 4.1 Macronutrients
4.2 Micronutrients
1. Transport in Plants
Transportation in plants is the process in which
substances absorbed or synthesised in one part of the
plant are moved to other parts of the plant.
Xylem and Phloem are two vascular tissues that facilitate
the conduction of water, minerals and food throughout the
plant body.
1.1 Xylem and its Components
• Xylem is a type of complex permanent tissue found in
vascular plants.
• The flow is unidirectional
• It helps in the conduction of water and minerals from
roots to all the parts of the plant.
Components of Xylem
Xylem Xylem Vessels
Parenchyma Conducts water and
Specialised for minerals upwards
food storage and laterally
Xylem Fibres Tracheids
Sclerenchymatous, Provides mechanical
provides support and helps in
mechanical upward conduction of
support water
1.2 Phloem and its Components
• Phloem is a type of complex permanent tissue found in
vascular plants.
• The flow is bidirectional
• It helps in the translocation of food manufactured in the
leaves to the other parts of the plant.
Components of Phloem
Sieve tube Phloem
Transport of parenchyma
food materials Specialised for
from cell to cell storage of
organic food
Phloem fibres Companion cells
Provides Support sieve tubes
mechanical in transporting food
support materials
Translocation of Solute
• The movement of organic food material or solutes
from one place to another in higher plants is called
translocation of organic solutes.
• Phloem tissue is essential for the translocation of
nutrients, water, energy, and signals in plants.
2. Water Absorption by Roots
• The root system is the
underground part of the
plants. Main
• The root system consists Root
of a main root, from Lateral
which lateral roots Root
originate.
• The lateral roots have fine Root
thread-like outgrowths hair
called root hairs.
2.1 Root hairs and its functions
Root hairs are the extensions of the epidermal
cells of the roots
• The root hairs provide a large
surface area for the absorption of
water.
• The solute concentration within the
cell sap is higher than the solute
concentration in the soil water.
• The cell wall of root hair is thin and
permeable while the cell
membrane is semipermeable.
• This semi-permeability assists the
process of osmosis, which
facilitates water absorption.
2.2 Mechanisms for Absorption of
Water through Roots
Active
Conditions Osmosis Diffusion
transport
Concentration High to low High to low Low to high
gradient
Needs
semi-permeabl Yes No No
e membrane
Molecules Water and Mineral ions
Water
transported minerals
Energy Required No Energy No Energy ATP
2.3 Root Pressure
• Root pressure is the pressure developed in the root
due to the continuous inflow of water. This pressure
helps in pushing the plant sap upwards. (ascent of
sap)
Root hair
Cell-to- Cortical cells
cell
Osmosis
Cross
Section of
the Root
3. Transpiration
Transpiration is the loss of water in the form of water
vapour from the aerial parts (through stomata) of a
plant.
H2O
H2O
H2O
H2O H2O
H2O
H2O
H2O
3.1 Factors Affecting the Rate of Transpiration
The rate of transpiration increases when the sunlight is
bright, temperature is high, wind velocity is high and
humidity in an area is low.
Sunlight Temperature Humidity Wind
3.2 Importance of Transpiration in Plants
Cooling Effect Maintaining the
concentration of sap
3.3 Uses of Water in Plants
Transportation:
Water helps in the transport of food and minerals
through the phloem and xylem respectively.
Food production: Water is an important component
in the process of photosynthesis.
Sunlight
CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + O2
Chlorophyll
Cooling:
When excess water is transpired from the leaf
surfaces in the form of water vapour, it has a cooling
effect on the plants
4. Micronutrients and
Macronutrients
4.1 Macronutrients
Macronutrients are the minerals required in large
quantities for the proper growth of plants.
Major Deficiency
Nutrients Role in the Plant
Symptoms
Major constituent of all Yellowing of leaves
Nitrogen
proteins
Phosphorus Constituent of cell Purple and red spots
membrane on leaves
Potassium Involved in opening
Poor growth
and closing of stomata
4.2 Micronutrients
Micronutrients are the minerals required in small quantities by
plants
Major Deficiency
Nutrients Role in the Plant
Symptoms
Constituent of some Yellowing of leaves
Iron
proteins
Yellowing of leaves,
Manganese Constituent of some
with grey spots
enzymes
Constituent of plant
ZInc hormones, activated De-shaped leaves
enzymes
Mind Map
Transpiration
Transport in
Plants
Factors Affecting Importance of
Transpiration Transpiration
Water
Absorption
by Roots Conducting
Tissue
Mechanisms Xylem Phloem
Phloem
Tracheids
Osmosis fibre
Phloem
Diffusion Xylem Fibre Parenchyma
Active Transport Xylem
Sieve tubes
Parenchyma
Xylem Companion
Root Pressure
Vessels Cells
Macronutrients &
Root Hairs Micronutrients
