What is the primary function of phloem in plants?

What is the primary function of phloem in plants?

• A. Xylem
• B. Chloroplasts
• C. Mitochondria
• D. Phloem

Answer: (D)

Phloem’s job is to move sugars and other photosynthates through the plant from where they’re produced or stored (sources) to where they’re needed or stored (sinks). It’s a living vascular tissue made up of sieve-tube elements and companion cells. Through the pressure-flow mechanism, sugars are actively loaded into the phloem at source tissues, which draws in water by osmosis and generates a flow that pushes the sap toward sinks. At the destinations, sugars are unloaded for growth, storage, or metabolism, and water can return to the xylem or move away. This contrasts with xylem, which mainly transports water and minerals upward from roots, while chloroplasts and mitochondria are organelles that handle photosynthesis and energy production, respectively. So the primary function of phloem is the long-distance transport of sugars and other organic nutrients throughout the plant.

Phloem’s job is to move sugars and other photosynthates through the plant from where they’re produced or stored (sources) to where they’re needed or stored (sinks). It’s a living vascular tissue made up of sieve-tube elements and companion cells. Through the pressure-flow mechanism, sugars are actively loaded into the phloem at source tissues, which draws in water by osmosis and generates a flow that pushes the sap toward sinks. At the destinations, sugars are unloaded for growth, storage, or metabolism, and water can return to the xylem or move away. This contrasts with xylem, which mainly transports water and minerals upward from roots, while chloroplasts and mitochondria are organelles that handle photosynthesis and energy production, respectively. So the primary function of phloem is the long-distance transport of sugars and other organic nutrients throughout the plant.