Question

Explain how the transportation of water, minerals and food takes place in plants.

Answer 1

Roots of the plants absorb water and minerals. Root hairs present in the roots maximise the surface area of the roots for absorption of water and the minerals dissolved in the water. The water and the dissolved minerals move from the root hair to the xylem in the roots. The water then moves up the stem through the xylem because of the force developed in the leaves due to transpiration known as the transpiration pull. Transpiration pull drives up water and dissolved minerals (sap) through the stem known as ascent of sap.
Some of the water absorbed and carbon dioxide taken in from air are used in the process of photosynthesis in leaves to produce food. This food is then transported to all parts of the plant through the phloem by the process of translocation.