Final answer:
The two types of conducting cells in xylem are tracheids and vessel elements, which are responsible for transporting water and minerals within plants. Phloem, which transports organic compounds, consists of different cell types including sieve elements and companion cells. Together, they form the plant's vascular system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two kinds of conducting cells that xylem has are tracheids and vessel elements. These cells form the transportation system for water and minerals within plants. Tracheids are elongated cells with thick, lignified secondary walls and pits that allow for water movement between them. Vessel elements are shorter cells that connect to each other via perforation plates, enabling the efficient transport of water up the plant.
On the other hand, phloem tissue, which transports sugars and other organic compounds, consists of a different set of cells including sieve elements (conducting cells), companion cells, phloem parenchyma, and phloem fibers. Phloem's conducting cells are alive at maturity, unlike the conducting cells of xylem.
Together, xylem and phloem make up the vascular system of the plants, crucial for transporting water, nutrients, and organic compounds throughout the plant.