Xylem in plants is responsible for following function:

Question

Xylem in plants is responsible for following function:

1. A. Transport of water and dissolved minerals (Correct answer)
2. B. Transport of foods
3. C. Transport of oxygen and other gases
4. D. Transport of essential amino acids

Correct Answer

Option A — Transport of water and dissolved minerals

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Transport of water and dissolved minerals.

Key Points

• Xylem is the vascular tissue responsible for the transport of water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves and other aerial parts of the plant.
• This movement is unidirectional — upward only.
• Xylem is a complex tissue made up of four elements: tracheids, vessels (tracheae), xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma.
• Of these, tracheids and vessels are dead at maturity and lignified, forming hollow tubes that provide both conduction and mechanical support.
• Water rises through them by the transpiration pull generated at the leaves, aided by the cohesion and adhesion properties of water — the cohesion-tension theory, with additional contribution from root pressure.
• The complementary tissue is phloem, which transports food (sucrose) prepared in the leaves to all parts of the plant through translocation, a bidirectional process explained by the pressure flow (mass flow) hypothesis.
• Phloem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem fibres and phloem parenchyma and is largely living.

Exam Tip

• remember xylem = dead and upward, phloem = living and bidirectional.

प्रश्न (हिन्दी में)

पौधों में जाइलम (Xylem) निम्नलिखित कार्य के लिए जिम्मेदार है:

1. A. पानी और घुले हुए खनिजों का परिवहन
2. B. भोजन का परिवहन
3. C. ऑक्सीजन और अन्य गैसों का परिवहन
4. D. आवश्यक अमीनो एसिड का परिवहन