Chapter

4 Transport in Plants

NOTES
11. Companion cells contain mitochondria to provide
4.1 Vascular Tissues energy in the form of ATP to transport sucrose from
1. Plants have vascular tissues to transport water, the leaf to the sieve tube through active transport.
mineral salts and nutrients to all the cells.
2. Xylem transports water and mineral salts absorbed 4.2 Transport of Water and Mineral
by the roots to stems and leaves. Salts
3. Xylem is also responsible to provide mechanical 1. The water and mineral salt movement from the soil to
support to the plant.
the leaves are helped by transpirational pull, capillary
4. Xylem vessel consists of dead cells at maturity which action and root pressure.
do not have cytoplasm.
2. Transpirational pull is produced when water that
5. These cells are arranged longitudinally from end to is evaporated from the stoma, pulls water from the
end to form a continuous tube to allow water flow leaves.
from the roots to the leaves.
3. Capillary action is produced from adhesion force and
Xylem vessel cohesion force of water molecules which moves water
upwards in the stem against gravity.
4. Root pressure moves the water from the soil into the
xylem vessels of the root via osmosis.
5. Guttation is a secretion of water droplets through a
special structure at the end of the leaf veins without
involving the stomata caused by a high root pressure.
Xylem Tracheid 6. Guttation occurs when the root pressure and the rate
vessel of transpiration is low.
6. The walls of xylem vessel have uneven lignin 7. This condition usually occurs at night and early
thickening to give strength to xylem vessels to morning when the air humidity is high, and the
prevent them from collapsing due to the tension force surrounding temperature is low.
and pressure changes when water moves through it 8. The root pressure formed pushes water to the leaves
and prevents the plant from being bent. and stems of the plant.
7. The cell wall of tracheid has lignin thickening and
pits to allow water movement to adjacent cells. 4.3 Translocation
8. Phloem transports organic compounds which are 1. Translocation is a process of transporting organic
synthesised by the leaves through photosynthesis to substances such as sucrose, amino acids and
the stems and roots. hormones in phloem from the leaves to other parts of
plant such as the roots and stem.
2. The diagram below shows the process of
translocation:
Sieve plate
Perforation Companion cell Leaf cell
plate
Companion
Sieve tube cell H2O Sucrose
Sieve
H 2O tube
9. Sieve tubes do not have nuclei, ribosomes or
Sieve
vacuoles. This allows sucrose molecules to pass plate
through sieve tubes easily. H 2O Sucrose
10. On both ends of the sieve tube, there is a sieve plate
that has pores through which organic compounds can Xylem Phloem
flow from one sieve tube to the next.

31

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 3. Translocation helps in transporting photosynthetic 2. Sunflower acts as a hyperaccumulator which can
products from the leaves to other parts of the plant eliminate heavy metals such as zinc, chromium,
that need them for growth and respiration such as copper, lead and nickel and also radioactive
roots, fruits, tip of shoots or developing flowers. substances such as caesium and strontium.
4. Other than that, translocation also transports excess 3. The roots of ground water spinach can absorb
photosynthetic products to other parts of the plants mercury from the soil whereas the roots of river
such as rhizomes, tubers and bulbs. water spinach are able to absorb heavy metals such
as cadmium from the water.
4.4 Phytoremediation 4. Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce plant) which has a fast
1. Phytoremediation is one of the treatment methods growth rate, can accumulate heavy metals and absorb
which uses plants for the purpose of degradation, nutrients in the waste plant.
extraction or elimination of pollute substances from
soil and water.

PAPER 1
Each question has four different answers A, B, C and D. For each question, choose one answer only.

4.1 Vascular Tissues 5. Diagram 1 shows the cross section of a plant root.

1. What are the cells that are involved in the formation P

of xylem tissue?
I Tracheid III Sieve tube Q
II Xylem vessel IV Companion cell R
A I and II C II and IV
S
B I and III D III and IV

2. Which of the following are vascular tissues? Diagram 1

A Endodermis and tracheid Which of the following statements is true about
B Phloem and endodermis
Diagram 1? HOTS Analysing
C Xylem and endodermis
D Xylem and phloem P – Has parenchymal cells which store starch
Q – Consists of sieve tube element and companion
3. What tissues are involved in the transportation of cell
water and mineral salts? R – Transports water and minerals
I Sieve tube S – Divides to form xylem and phloem tissues
II Xylem vessel A Q and R C P, Q and R
III Companion cell B P and S D Q, R and S
IV Tracheid
A I and II C II and IV
6. Diagram 2 shows a cross section of the plant cell.
B I and III D III and IV

4. Phloem tissue is important in transportation of organic

substances. What are these organic substances?
I Phytohormones Cell
Cell
II Soluble minerals U
T
III Sucrose
IV Water
A I and II C II and IV
B I and III D III and IV
Diagram 2
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Question 6:
SOS TIP

Consider the structure of the cell.

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 Which of the statements below is / are true about the 10. How do sieve tubes adapt to their functions?
diagram above? HOTS Analysing HOTS Analysing
K – Cell U has a nucleus when matured. I Sieve tubes do not have nuclei, ribosomes or
L – Cell U has cytoplasm filament to help in vacuoles to allow sucrose molecules to pass
translocation of organic matter. through sieve tubes easily.
M – Cell T has numerous mitochondria. II There is a sieve plate that has pores through
N – Cell T provides the metabolic needs of cell U. which organic compounds can flow from one
sieve tube to the next.
A K only C K, M and N III Sieve tubes have thick cell walls to create a
B L and M D L, M and N strong continuous tube for transportation.
IV Sieve tubes do not have cytoplasm to allow
7. Diagram 3 shows the longitudinal section through sucrose molecules to pass through sieve tubes
vascular tissue in a plant stem. easily.
A I and II C II and IV
B I and III D III and IV

4.2 Transport of Water and Mineral

Salts

11. What is transpiration?

A Transpiration is a process to absorb water and
mineral salts through roots.
B Transpiration is a process to pull water from the
Diagram 3 roots to the leaves of plant.
What is the name of the vascular tissue and its C Transpiration is a process of water loss in the
contents? HOTS Applying form of water vapour through evaporation from
the plants to the atmosphere.
Name of
D Transpiration is a process to transport sucrose in
vascular Contents
phloem.
tissue
A Sieve tube Water and inorganic substances 12. At which organ does most transpiration takes place in
B Xylem vessel Water and organic substances green plants?
C Sieve tube Water and organic substances A Root C Flower
D Xylem vessel Water and inorganic substances B Stem D Leaf

13. Which of following processes are involved in the

8. Which of the following statement is false related to
transportation of water from the root to the leaves?
tracheids?
I Capillary action III Photosynthesis
A Tracheids have thick cell wall.
II Transpirational pull IV Respiration
B Tracheids have a wide lumen.
A I and II C II and IV
C Tracheids transport water and mineral salts.
B I and III D III and IV
D Tracheids are a part in xylem tissue.

14. How does water enter the root hair cells?

9. Which of the following are the functions of xylem?
A Osmosis C Facilitated diffusion
I Xylem transports water and mineral salts from
B Simple diffusion D Active transport
roots to leaves.
II Xylem transports water and mineral salts from
roots to leaves and vice versa. 15. There are two pathways for the water to move from
III Xylem provides mechanical support to plants. root cells to xylem. The pathways are HOTS Applying
IV Xylem provides turgidity to plants. I apoplast pathway III simplas pathway
A I and II C II and IV II bypass pathway IV thermoplas pathway
B I and III D III and IV A I and II C II and IV
B I and III D III and IV
33
Question 10:
SOS TIP

Think about the properties of the sieve tubes.

Question 15:
Consider the pathway passing through the cytoplasm and cell wall.

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 16. Diagram 4 shows a type of plant tissue. 19. Guttation is the result of
A root pressure C transpiration
B diffusion D osmosis
Lignin 20. Which of the following processes is responsible for
the formation of dew in plants?
A Guttation C Excretion
B Photosynthesis D Transpiration

Diagram 4
4.3 Translocation
What will happen to the transport of substances in the
plant if lignin is absent in the tissue? HOTS Analysing 21. What is translocation?
A Glucose cannot be transported continuously. A Translocation is a process of transporting water
B Sucrose can be transported continuously. in xylem from the roots to the leaves.
C Amino acids can be transported continuously. B Translocation is a process of transporting mineral
D Water cannot be transported continuously. salts in xylem from the roots to the leaves.
C Translocation is a process of transporting oxygen
17. Diagram 5 shows an experiment conducted to study the in the phloem from the leaves to other parts of the
tissue that is used to transport water and mineral salts. plant.
D Translocation is a process of transporting organic
Flower showing red colour substances in the phloem from the leaves to other
parts of the plant such as the roots and stem.
Balsam branch
22. Aphid is a pest that sucks sap from the plants. Which
part of the plant contains the sap that will be sucked
Water containing eosin by the aphid? HOTS Applying
A Xylem C Leaves
B Phloem D Rhizome
Diagram 5
When the balsam stem is cut, which tissue shows red 23. Water helps in translocation in the phloem. How does
in colour? HOTS Analysing the water help? HOTS Analysing
A Epidermis C Xylem A The hydrostatic pressure of water in the phloem
B Phloem D Meristem moves the substances in the phloem.
B The root pressure of the water from the root
18. Diagram 6 shows the movement of water in xylem. provides a force to push the substances to move
X in the phloem.
C The transpirational pull from the transpiration
process in the leaves help to push the organic
substances in the phloem.
D The water dissolves the solid food to make the
Y flow mechanism in the phloem.

24. Why does the oxygen uptake by the plants affects

translocation in phloem? HOTS Analysing
Diagram 6 A Oxygen is needed by the root hair cells to
What are the attractive forces X and Y? HOTS Analysing transport water and mineral salts in the xylem.
B Oxygen is needed by the leaves to carry out light-
X Y independent reaction to produce glucose.
A Root pressure Cohesion C Oxygen is needed for the cellular respiration
B Adhesion Cohesion in companion cells to produce energy so that
translocation can be carried out.
C Transpirational pull Root pressure D Oxygen is needed by photosynthetic enzymes to
D Adhesion Transpirational pull carry out photosynthesis.
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Question 16: Question 22:
SOS TIP

Think of the effect of the presence of lignin. Think of the function of the parts in plants.
Question 17: Question 23:
Think about the function of each tissue. Think about the effect of water in the phloem.
Question 18: Question 24:
Think about the attractive force between the water molecules and xylem. Think about the function of oxygen in plants.

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 25. What happens if the companion cell dies? Which of the following is the result of the
A Water and mineral salts cannot be transported in experiment? HOTS Analysing
xylem. A C
B Photosynthetic products cannot be transported in
xylem.
C Photosynthetic products cannot be transported in
phloem.
D Xylem cannot be lignified.
B D
26. Diagram 7 shows the longitudinal section of a stem.
An insect that feeds on the nutrients of the plant
should ensure its mouth part is in?
B C D

A
4.4 Phytoremediation

29. What is phytoremediation?


Vascular bundle A Phytoremediation is a treatment method which
uses plants for the purpose of degradation,
Diagram 7 extraction or elimination of pollute substances
from soil and water.
27. Diagram 8 shows a ringing experiment was done to B Phytoremediation is a beautification method to
plant K. make the environment beautiful.
C Phytoremediation is a conservation method
to return the environment back to its original
condition.
Plant K D Phytoremediation is a recycling process to
Diagram 8 remake the waste materials into useful new
What will be the outcome after one month? materials.
HOTS Analysing
A C 30. Phytoremediation can clean up polluted soils using
.
A anaerobic bacteria to degrade toxic compounds
B plants to remove the pollutant when the plant is
B D harvested
C plant covers to prevent surface soil heating
D adding nutrients to stimulate the activity of
certain soil bacteria
28. A leaf from a healthy plant is placed under the sun
31. P will normally be used in the process of
and put in a flask with 14CO2 for 4 hours. At the end
phytoremediation. What is P?
of the experiment, a transverse section of the stem is
A Virus C Green plants
placed on an X-ray film.
B Bacteria D Animal

32. Technique X will normally use the roots of green

Healthy plant plants to clean the contaminated groundwater in
phytoremediation. What is technique X?
Cross-section A Rhizofiltration
of stem B Rhizoremediation
Placed on
X-ray film
C Rhizostabilisation
D Rhizodegradation
Diagram 9
35
Question 27:
SOS TIP

Think about the function of this part in the plant.

Question 28:
Think about the function of carbon dioxide.

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 PAPER 2
Section A

Answer all questions.

1. Diagram 1(a) shows the movement of water in a plant and Diagram 1(b) shows the cross section of a leaf.

K
Water L
pathway

Spongy
mesophyll
Process X
     
(a) (b)
Diagram 1

(a) State two differences between cell K and spongy mesophyll cell. HOTS Applying [2 marks]
Table 1

Cell K Spongy mesophyll cell

(b) L is a type of vascular tissue. Explain one adaptation of L in transporting water. [1 mark]

(c) (i) Explain the importance of process X in transporting water in plant. [2 marks]

(ii) Trees that live nearby quarries are exposed to a lot of dust. Explain how this condition affects process X.
HOTS Analysing [2 marks]

36
Question 1:
SOS TIP

(a) Recognise cell K and compare to the spongy mesophyll cell.

(c) Process X is the transpiration process.

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 2. Diagram 2 shows the illustration for the water transport mechanism in roots.
Cell wall
Cytoplasm
Vacuole

Soil particles
Q
P
Diagram 2
(a) (i) Name the cells labelled P. [1 mark]

(ii) Briefly describe the characteristics of structure Q. HOTS Applying [2 marks]

(b) (i) Use alphabet R to label the endodermis layer in Diagram 2. [1 mark]
(ii) Describe one characteristic of endodermis layer to the transportation of water at the roots. HOTS Applying
[1 mark]

(c) Draw the continue pathway of water in Diagram 2. [2 marks]

3. (a) Plants contain various types of carbohydrate.

(i) Give two similarities between starch and cellulose. HOTS Applying [2 marks]

(ii) Give two differences between starch and cellulose. HOTS Applying [2 marks]

(b) In plants, translocation of sugars takes place through columns of sieve cells in the phloem. Another cell, known
as cell J, transport sugars in and out of the sieve cells. Diagram 3 shows the longitudinal section of phloem.

Structure J

Sieve tube
Parenchyma
phloem

Cell K

Diagram 3
37
Question 2:
SOS TIP

(a) (ii) Recognise structure Q first.

(b) (ii) Think about one special property of the endodermis layer.
Question 3:
(a) (i) Think about the basic unit in them.
(ii) Think about their structures.

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 (i) Name structure J. [1 mark]

(ii) Using Diagram 3, suggest and explain one characteristic of cell K which is adapted for the translocation of
sugars. [2 marks]

4. A nuclear plant explosion incident occurred in 1986 in Chernobyl, Russia. Mr. Kelvin, a chemical engineer, discovered
that the lakes near the nuclear plant were contaminated by heavy metals.
(a) (i) What method should be used by Mr. Kelvin to treat the lakes using plants? [1 mark]

(ii) Define the method you stated in (a)(ii). [1 mark]

(iii) State one mechanism of the method you stated in (a)(i) involving plants and microorganisms. [1 mark]

(b) (i) If you are Mr. Kelvin, suggest the plant that can be planted near the lakes? [1 mark]

(ii) Explain your answer in (b)(i). HOTS Analysing [1 mark]

(c) A few farmers discovered that the soil in their farm near the lakes is contaminated too. They came to meet Mr.
Kelvin to help to solve their problems. What action can be taken by Mr. Kelvin to solve the problems faced by
the farmers? Why? HOTS Analysing [2 marks]

38
Question 3:
SOS TIP

(b) (ii) Think about their structures.

Question 4:
(b) (ii) Think about what the plant can do in the lakes.
(c) Think of a plant that can help to solve this problem and explain it.

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 Section B

5. Diagram 4 shows the transport system of a plant.

Soil
Water
Diagram 4

(a) The transport system in plants involves two types of vascular tissues. Explain how the vascular tissues are adapted
to transport substances in plants. HOTS Applying [6 marks]
(b) Explain the importance of transportation of water in plants. [4 marks]
(c) Based on Diagram 4, describe the mechanism of water transport from the soil to the leaves. [10 marks]

Section C

6. Diagram 5 shows the relationship between an organism X and a plant.

Sharp
Plant mouthpiece

Organism X

Diagram 5
(a) (i) How does organism X obtain its energy from the plant? [4 marks]
(ii) If organism X is present in large amounts, it will bring harm to the plant. Explain the possible consequences
to the plant. HOTS Evaluating [6 marks]
(b) Phytoremediation is one of the treatment methods which uses plants for the purpose of degradation, extraction or
elimination of polluted substances from the soil and water. However, the phytoremediation has some advantages
and disadvantages. Discuss this method. HOTS Evaluating [10 marks]

39
Question 5:
SOS TIP

(a) Identify the two vascular tissues first.

Question 6:
(a) (ii) Relate the way organism X obtains its nutrients from the plant to the effects.
(b) Think about the contaminants in the soil and the process of this treatment.

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