Phloem: Downward Movement on Nutrients in Plants

The video explains the phloem system in plants, focusing on sieve tube elements and companion cells. It describes how sap, rich in water and sugars, is transported from sugar sources to sugar sinks. The process of photosynthesis in leaves produces sugars, creating a diffusion gradient that draws water into phloem cells, generating turgor pressure to move sap efficiently.

What is the primary role of sieve tube elements in the phloem?

• To protect the plant from pathogens

• To produce sugars through photosynthesis

• To form tubes for nutrient transport

• To store water and nutrients

Why do sieve tube elements rely on companion cells?

• They are involved in water transport

• They are responsible for photosynthesis

• They lack the ability to transport nutrients

• They do not have the cellular machinery to produce essential products

What is the main component of the sap that flows through the phloem?

• Minerals

• Proteins

• Sugars

• Lipids

Where are sugars primarily produced in plants?

• Flowers

• Leaves

• Stems

• Roots

What creates the turgor pressure that moves sap in the phloem?

• Gravity

• Wind

• Water drawn into phloem cells

• Temperature changes