Transport of Organic Substances by

Phloem
Photosynthetic products must obviously be transported to non-photosynthetic tissues
of the plant.

Evidence that movement is through Phloem

Metabolic inhibitors - when introduced to phloem, translocation is
halted therefore suggesting active processes involved.
Radioactive Labeling - Plants supplied with 14CO2 and a light source.
Radioactivity later detected in phloem.
Aphids - these feed on translocating sugars by penetrating sieve tubes
with modified mouthparts (stylets). Aphid is anaesthatised and body removed
leaving stylets embedded in phloem. Sieve tube contents continue to exude
from stylet, can be collected and analysed.

The role of aphids in phloem

research

photographs from ultranet.com/~jkimball/BiologyPages

The reason aphids are used is because normally when a sieve tube is punctured
with a measuring probe, the holes in its end walls quickly plug up. However, aphids
can insert their mouth parts without triggering this response. The above left diagram
shows when it punctures a sieve tube, sap enters the insect's mouth parts under
pressure. above right diagram shows phloem sap will continue to exude from the
mouthparts after the aphid has been cut away from them.

Munchs Mass Flow (Pressure) Hypothesis

This is the major hypothesis used to explain movement in phloem though it has its
limitations.
 diagram from ultranet.com/~jkimball/BiologyPages
This diagram shows the pressure flow theory of phloem transport - normally we would use hydrostatic pressu
pressure (the AQA spec B examiners like the phrase hydrostatic pressure!)
The major steps in the mass flow theory are as follows:
1.Active transport/active movement of sugar (sucrose) at the source into phloem cells
2.causes the water potential of phloem contents to become more negative.

3.Therefore water follows by osmosis from adjacent cells.

4.This means the hydrostatic pressure in phloem increases

5.which causes mass flow.

6.At another part of the plant (a sink e.g. the roots) the sugars are removed from the phloem
gradients are maintained
(if you can learn this paragraph it could score you 4-5 marks!)

Adaptations of Plants to dry conditions (Xerophytic

plants)
These adaptations all reduce water loss from the plant
Stomata sunken in pits creates local humidity/decreases exposure to air
currents;
Presence of hairs creates local humidity next to leaf/decreases exposure to
air currents by reducing flow around stomata;
Stomata mainly located on underside of leaf so less exposed to air
currents/heat from sun;
Stomata close midrib so more sheltered from air currents;
Stomata close together so diffusion shells overlap;
Thick waxy cuticle makes more waterproof impermeable to water;
Double palisade layer increases diffusion distance;
Stomata on inside of rolled leaf creates local humidity/decreases exposure to
air currents because water vapour evaporates into air space rather than
 atmosphere e.g. British Marram grass
Less stomata decreases transpiration as this is where water is lost;

These two diagrams show Marram grass leaves - this is a British grass found on
sand dunes which possesses: rolled leaves, leaf hairs and sunken stomata. These
adaptations make it resistant to dry conditions and of course sand-dunes which drain
very quickly retain very little water.