Final answer:
Osmosis is the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane according to the water's concentration gradient across the membrane, which is inversely proportional to the solutes' concentration. In plants, osmosis plays a critical role in the transport of glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osmosis is the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane according to the water's concentration gradient across the membrane, which is inversely proportional to the solutes' concentration. In plants, osmosis plays a critical role in the transport of glucose. As water moves up from the roots to replace water used and lost by leaf cells, the osmotic pressure drops in the root cells, drawing water into the cells and roots by osmosis. This osmotic pressure is the main force driving water into plants and moving it up from the roots to the rest of the plant.