Name: Complex Tissues (Xylem and Phloem)
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min 10 s
Description: The average height of a coconut tree is 30 m. How does a coconut tree move water from its roots to the very tips of its leaves? Is it magic, or is it science...

Question

Describe an activity to show phloem transports food prepared by leaves.

Accepted Answer

An activity to show that phloem transports food prepared by the leaves.

Things needed: A potted plant and a razor blade.

Method: Take a potted plant with a thick stem. Carefully remove the stem bark with the help of a razor blade (Fig. 1(a)). This is known as girdling of the stem. The girdling of stem remove the phloem tissues of the stem. Leave the plant in sunlight for a few days and observe the girdled part carefully.

Fig. 1: Phloem transports food prepared by leaves.

Observation: The part of the stem above the girdle shows swelling, while the lower portion dries up (Fig. 1(b)).

Reason: Girdling of stem removes the phloem tissues of the stem. As a result, the food prepared by the leaves could not be translocated below the girdled part of the stem. Therefore, the food gets collected above the girdled part, resulting in the swollen stem. The portion below the girdle stem dries up due to the lack of food.

Conclusion: Phloem transports the food prepared by the leaves to the different parts of the plant.

Describe an activity to show phloem transports food prepared by leaves.

Important Questions on Transportation in Animals and Plants

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