Question

Explain transportation of water in plants.

Answer 1

In plants, minerals and water are transported through the xylem cells of roots from the soil to the leaves. Mineral salts in the soil are absorbed into plants through roots, then these are translocated upwards along with water through the xylem.

Transportation of water from roots:

Water is transported to all parts of plants through roots. The transportation takes place in the following manner

• Water through their roots is continuously absorbed by the plants. This water is sent up through the stem to all parts of the plant, including the leaves.
• Only a little amount, of water, is retained in the plant or utilized by it in photosynthesis. The rest of it gets evaporated into the atmosphere as water vapour through the Stomata present in the epidermis of the leaves and other aerial parts of the plant.
• This creates a suction pressure that pulls up water from the xylem of the roots to the stem and then to the leaves.
• Xylem tissues are narrower in their diameter, and in the form of capillary tubes (tracheids and fibers), greater will be the force.
• Whenever the xylem vessels lay empty, such as during the loss of water by transpiration, the water from below rises into them by a capillary force.

Thus, it can be said that the xylem plays an important role in the transportation of water and minerals once they absorb these and transport them to different plant parts.