Question

Is the bark involved in the movement of organic solutes towards the root?

Answer 1

Translocation:

1. The movement of organic food materials from one point to another in higher plants is defined as translocation.
2. Nutrients and sugars made in the leaves during photosynthesis are transported throughout the plant through the phloem, which is a series of connected cells.

Girdling experiment:

1. It is an experiment used to identify the tissue through which the food is transported.
2. A ring of the bark is snipped from the stem which eliminates the phloem.
3. Nutrients accumulate over the ring and the bark swells up.
4. Above the ring, growth is vigorous.
5. The tissues underneath the ring not only exhibit stoppage of growth but also start shriveling.
6. If the ring is not timely healed, the roots could starve and die.
7. The death of roots can kill the entire plant.
8. This clearly indicates that the phloem or bark is involved in the movement of organic solutes towards the roots.