Xylem transport water and Minerals from …

Transport of water and minerals

Plants need water to make food through the process of photosynthesis and minerals for making proteins. Thus, a plant absorbs water and minerals from soil through roots and transport it other parts like stem, leaves, flowers etc. It is through two kinds of elements of xylem tissue called, xylem vessels and tracheid that water and minerals move from roots of a plant to its leaves.

Xylem vessels

Xylem vessel is a long tube made up of dead cells joined end to end. It is a non-living tube which runs from roots of the plants and runs through the stem and reaches every leaf. The end walls of the cells are broken so that an open tube is formed.

Xylem vessels do not have cytoplasm or nuclei and the walls of the vessels are made of cellulose or lignin. Other than transporting water and minerals, xylem vessel also provides strength to the stem and keeps it upright. This is because lignin is very hard and strong. Wood is made of lignified xylem vessels. Xylem vessels have pits in their cell walls where lignin is not deposited. Either xylem vessel or both xylem vessel and tracheid transport water in flowering plants.