What are xylem and phloem?

• A. Phloem transports water/minerals
• B. Xylem transports sugars
• C. Xylem transports water/minerals; Phloem transports sugars
• D. Phloem stores minerals

Answer: (C)

Plants have a vascular transport system made up of xylem and phloem. Xylem carries water and dissolved minerals from the roots up to the stems and leaves, moving mainly upward. The cells in xylem are hollow and dead, forming tough, lignified tubes that help pull water through the plant as it loses water from the leaves. Phloem, on the other hand, carries sugars produced during photosynthesis, usually from the leaves to other parts of the plant where energy is needed or stored. This movement, called translocation, can go in different directions depending on demand, and it uses energy from companion cells that help load sugars into the phloem’s sieve tubes to create the pressure that pushes sap along. So the usual pairing is that xylem transports water and minerals, while phloem transports sugars.