Saturday, June 24, 2017

2.52: Describe the Role of Xylem in Transporting Water and Mineral salts from the Roots to the Other Parts of the Plant

XYLEM: Consists of Elongated Dead cells, Arranged as a Continuous vessel Where the Dead Cells are Arranged End to End

  • Contains No Cytoplasm so is Impermeable to water
  • Has Tough Walls containing a Lignin
  • Transports Water and Mineral Ions from the Roots to Other Parts of the Plants by Transpiration

Diagram:
                  

XYLEM AND TRANSPIRATION:

TRANSPIRATION: Evaporation of Water from the Surface of the Plant

TRANSPIRATION
Diagram Showing the Process of Transpiration in Plants
PROCESS:

  • Water Vapours will Pull on Each Other Up the Xylem Vessels as they Are Cohesive (Vapours Sticks and Travels Together)
  • Water Move through the Spongy Mesophyll Cells by Osmosis and will Form Water Vapours and Evaporate, Diffusing Out of the Stomata of the Leaf
  • Water will be Continuously Drawn Up the Xylem to Replace the Water that is Lost, Creating a Transpiration Stream (Like a Drinking Straw with a Flow of water and Dissolved Minerals from the Roots to the Leaves)

FUNCTIONS:

  • Constant Uptake and Transport of Mineral Ions (E.g Nitrates for Amino Acids to Build Protein)
  • Providing Water to Keep Cells Turgid to Make them Bigger and Stronger to Support Upward Growth of Plant
  • Provide Water to Photosynthesizing Cells in Leaves to Conduct Photosynthesis
  • Keep the Leaves Cool by Evaporative Cooling (Maintains Optimum Temperature of Enzymes so Temperatures Do Not Get Too Hot)

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