Which tissue transports food downward in plants?

Which tissue transports food downward in plants?

• A. Xylem
• B. Phloem
• C. Meristem
• D. Cambium

Answer: (B)

Phloem is the tissue that transports food downward in plants. It carries organic nutrients, mainly sugars produced in photosynthesis in the leaves, to other parts of the plant that need them—like developing roots, fruits, seeds, and storage tissues. This movement, called translocation, occurs through sieve tube elements supported by companion cells. The process relies on loading sugar into the phloem at source tissues, which draws in water by osmosis and creates a pressure that pushes the nutrient-rich sap through the phloem to areas where it’s needed and unloaded. In contrast, xylem moves water and minerals upward from the roots to the shoots and is not used for transporting sugars. Meristem and cambium are growth tissues that produce new cells for plant growth rather than distributing nutrients.

Phloem is the tissue that transports food downward in plants. It carries organic nutrients, mainly sugars produced in photosynthesis in the leaves, to other parts of the plant that need them—like developing roots, fruits, seeds, and storage tissues. This movement, called translocation, occurs through sieve tube elements supported by companion cells. The process relies on loading sugar into the phloem at source tissues, which draws in water by osmosis and creates a pressure that pushes the nutrient-rich sap through the phloem to areas where it’s needed and unloaded.

In contrast, xylem moves water and minerals upward from the roots to the shoots and is not used for transporting sugars. Meristem and cambium are growth tissues that produce new cells for plant growth rather than distributing nutrients.