Which tissue conducts water in plants and supports the plant, moving fluids from base to tip?

Which tissue conducts water in plants and supports the plant, moving fluids from base to tip?

• A. Xylem
• B. Phloem
• C. Pesticide
• D. Toxic

Answer: (A)

Water conduction and structural support in plants are provided by xylem. This tissue forms the main channel for moving water and dissolved minerals from the roots upward to the stems and leaves. Its cells have thick, lignified walls that harden as they mature, giving the plant rigidity and support. The movement of water in xylem is largely unidirectional—from base to tip—driven by transpiration pull from the leaves, along with root pressure and the cohesion-tension mechanism that keeps the water column intact. Phloem, by contrast, transports sugars and other nutrients throughout the plant and can move substances in different directions depending on where nutrients are needed. Pesticide and toxic are not plant tissues and do not conduct water.

Water conduction and structural support in plants are provided by xylem. This tissue forms the main channel for moving water and dissolved minerals from the roots upward to the stems and leaves. Its cells have thick, lignified walls that harden as they mature, giving the plant rigidity and support. The movement of water in xylem is largely unidirectional—from base to tip—driven by transpiration pull from the leaves, along with root pressure and the cohesion-tension mechanism that keeps the water column intact. Phloem, by contrast, transports sugars and other nutrients throughout the plant and can move substances in different directions depending on where nutrients are needed. Pesticide and toxic are not plant tissues and do not conduct water.