A plant stem's two main functions are to support the leaves and to transport materials
between roots and leaves. As a stem develops, it possesses three types of permanent
tissues: surface tissue, ground tissue, and vascular tissue. The surface and ground
tissues support and give structure to the plant. The vascular tissues are the transport
systems of the plant. The vascular tissues usually exist in one of three patterns and are
known as the phloem and xylem.
Both the xylem and phloem are made up of several different types of cells that make up
transport tubes for needed nutrients. In general, xylem nutrients (sap) travel from the roots
to the rest of the plant. Phloem sap is derived from photosynthesizing leaves and from
there is carried throughout the plant.
What would we be able to study by injecting a nutrient dye into the root of a plant?
A. phloem sap transport
B. pith and cortex cells
C. all vascular tissues
D. xylem sap transport
OE. total plant photosynthesis