BIOCHEMISTRY

What is Difference Between Xylem And Phloem?

Main difference – Xylem vs Phloem

the major Difference Between Xylem And Phloem is that The xylem and phloem are the two main types of complex tissues found in plants. Xylem is also called hydromel and is responsible for the conduction of water in plants. The xylem contains heterogeneous cells in their structure and function, such as parenchyma cells, xylem fibers, vessels, and tracheids.

The phloem is responsible for the conduction of food. It also contains heterogeneous cells such as parenchyma cells, phloem fibers, sieve elements, and companion cells.

The xylem consists mainly of dead cells, while the phloem consists mainly of living cells. the main difference between xylem and phloem is thatThe xylem is involved in the transport of water and minerals from the roots to the apical parts of the plant. while Phloem is involved in the transport of food and minerals from the leaves to the cultivation and storage of parts of the plant.

What is the xylem

The xylem is one of the two complex vascular tissues found in plants. It participates in the transport of water and minerals in a unidirectional way, from the roots to the leaves of the plants. Hormones and some small molecules are also transported along with water. Water transport is completely a passive process. It is driven by two factors: root pressure and transpirational traction.

Water in the soil enters the roots through osmosis due to root pressure. Water is lost from the stomata of the leaves due to perspiration. Surface tension draws water from the roots to the leaves due to perspiration.

Four types of cells can be found in the xylem. They are tracheids, vessels, xylem fibers and cells of the xylem parenchyma.

Xylem fibers and parenchyma cells are involved in the structural support of most plants. Parenchymal cells are the only ones found alive in the xylem. The tracheal elements are the tubes, involved in the transport of water and minerals. Two types of tracheal elements are identified: tracheids and vessels.

The tracheids are long and the elements of the vessels are short. The elements of the container are connected to each other, forming tubes called vessels.

What is phloem

Phloem is the other complex type of vascular tissue found in plants, involved in the transport of sugars and other metabolic products bidirectionally from the leaves to the storage tissues and from the storage tissues to the growing parts. It is found in the outermost layer of the cortex.

The transport of food through the phloem is called translocation. It is produced by active transport, using ATP energy, according to the sugar concentration gradient.

Four types of cells are found in the phloem. : Parenchyma cells, phloem fibers, sieve elements, and companion cells. The sieve elements and the company cells are located nearby, forming a complex of sieve element/cell cells.

The sieve elements are called sieve-tube members in the angiosperms and the sieve cell in gymnosperms and ferns. The sieve plate is only found in the angiosperms. It allows the flow between two adjacent cells. The companion cells provide vital support to the sieve element.

Difference between xylem and phloem

Definition

Xylem: The xylem is one of the complex issues found in plants, involved in the transport of water and minerals from the roots to the apical parts of the plant.

Líber: Phloem is the other complex tissue found in plants, involved in the transport of food and minerals from the leaves to the cultivation and storage of parts of the plant.

Destination

Xylem: The xylem transports water from the roots to the leaves ..

Libero: The phloem transports food from the leaves to the growing parts and storage organs.

Composition

Xylem: The xylem is made up of dead cells.

Líber: The phloem is made up of living cells.

Cell wall thickness

Xylem: The cell walls of the xylem are thick.

Líber: The cell walls of the phloem are thin.

Cell wall material

Xylem: The cell wall of the xylem is formed by lignin. From there, it gives the rigidity to the plants.

Líber: The cell wall of the phloem is made of cellulose.

Permeability

Xylem: The xylem cells are waterproof.

Libero: The cells in the phloem are permeable to food.

Cytoplasm

Xylem: The xylem cells have no cytoplasm.

Libero: The cells in the phloem consist of cytoplasm, which lines the phloem cavity.

Flow direction

Xylem: The xylem transports water unidirectionally, from the roots to the apical parts of the plant.

Libero: The phloem transports food bidirectionally from the leaves to the storage parts and from the storage parts to the growing parts.

Content

Xylem: The xylem consists of xylemic parenchyma, xylem fibers, tracheas, and vessels.

Libero: The phloem consists of phloem parenchyma, phloem fibers, sieve tubes, sieve cells, and companion cells.

Live dead

Xylem: Xylem cells are dead cells other than parenchyma cells.

Libero: All cells except phloem fibers are alive.

Conductive element

Xylem: The conductive elements are vessels and traquids.

Líber: The conductive elements are the sieve tubes.

Shape

Xylem: The xylem is shaped like a star.

Líber: The phloem has no star shape.

In vascular package

Xylem: The xylem is in the center of the vascular bundle.

Líber: The phloem is found outside the vascular bundle.

In older plants

Xylem: In older plants, the xylem occupies most of the plant’s body.

Líber: The phloem occupies a small part of the body of the plant.

Septa

Xylem: The xylem vessels do not consist of septa.

Libero: Sieve tubes consist of bulky and porous septa.

Transport mode

Xylem: The passive transport of water and minerals occurs in the xylem.

Liber: The active transport of sugars and other metabolites occurs in the phloem.

conclusion

The xylem and phloem are two types of vascular tissues of plants. The xylem is hard-walled tubular cells, which transport water and minerals unidirectionally from the roots to the leaves. Phloem is the soft-walled tubular cells, which transport minerals and food in the form of sucrose, in a bidirectional manner, from the leaves to the storage tissues and from the storage tissues to the growing tissues.

Therefore, the main difference between the xylem and the phloem is in the material transported by each of the two vascular tissues. Both the xylem and the phloem contain parenchyma cells and fibers. Tracheids and vessel elements participate in the transport of water and minerals in the xylem.

The sieve elements are involved in the transport of sugars and metabolic products through the plant, from leaves. Transport in xylem occurs in passive mode, while transport in phloem occurs in active mode.

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