Question

In plants, phloem tissues perform the function of

• A. Conduction of water
• B. Conduction of food
• C. Photosynthesis
• D. Mechanical suppor

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Conduction of food

In plants, phloem tissues perform the function of conduction of food.

Phloem helps in conducting food materials. It is composed of:

• Sieve tube elements

• Companion cells

• Phloem parenchyma

• Phloem fibres

Sieve tube elements are tube-like elongated structures associated with companion cells. The end walls of sieve tube elements are perforated to form the sieve plate. Sieve tube elements are living cells containing cytoplasm and nucleus. Companion cells are parenchymatous in nature. They help in maintaining the pressure gradient in the sieve tube elements. Phloem parenchyma helps in the storage of food and is made up of long tapering cells, with a dense cytoplasm. Phloem fibres are made up of elongated sclerenchymatous cells with thick cell walls.