Biology – 8.1 Transport in plants | e-Consult
8.1 Transport in plants (1 questions)
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To identify xylem vessels, students should look for the following features:
- Large, hollow cells with thick, lignified walls. The lignification will appear as a darker staining within the cell walls.
- The cells will be arranged in distinct central vascular cylinder, often forming a star-shaped pattern.
- Xylem vessels will appear as continuous tubes extending throughout the root.
Key differences between xylem and phloem:
- Xylem is primarily involved in water and mineral transport. It consists of dead, lignified cells (tracheids and vessel elements) that provide structural support.
- Phloem is involved in the transport of sugars (produced during photosynthesis). It consists of living cells (sieve tube elements and companion cells) that are not lignified.
- Xylem vessels are typically larger and have thicker walls than phloem.
- Xylem is located in the central vascular cylinder, while phloem is located in the outer regions of the vascular cylinder.