Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves and the food prepared by it reaches other parts of the plants. Name the process involved and explain it.
Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves and the food prepared by it reaches other parts of the plants. Name the process involved and explain it.
The process involved in transporting food prepared in the leaves to other parts of the plant is called translocation.
Explanation of the Process:
- Tissue Involved: Translocation takes place in the vascular tissue called phloem. It moves soluble products of photosynthesis, amino acids, and other substances both in upward and downward directions.
- Structural Components: The transport occurs in the sieve tubes with the help of adjacent companion cells.
- Mechanism (Active Transport): Unlike transport in xylem (which relies mainly on physical forces like transpiration pull), translocation in phloem is an active process requiring energy.
- Osmotic Pressure: Material like sucrose is loaded into the phloem tissue using energy from . This increases the osmotic pressure of the tissue, causing water to move into it from the xylem. This high osmotic pressure pushes the food material along the phloem to tissues with lower pressure, allowing the plant to distribute nutrients according to its metabolic needs.
Marking Scheme
- 1Naming the process as 'Translocation' and the tissue as 'Phloem' (1 mark)
- 2Explaining the mechanism involving sieve tubes, companion cells, use of ATP, and osmotic pressure gradient (1 mark)
Hint
Name the vascular tissue responsible for food transport and explain how energy in the form of ATP is used to create pressure differences.
Quick Oral Answer
The process is called translocation. It occurs in the phloem tissue, where sucrose is actively loaded using ATP, creating an osmotic pressure gradient that moves the food to various parts of the plant.
Analysis & Explanation
Photosynthesis produces carbohydrates (like glucose/sucrose) in the green leaves. These soluble organic molecules must be distributed to non-photosynthetic parts of the plant (roots, stems, fruits, and growing buds) for consumption and storage. This specialized transport is called translocation and is carried out by the phloem.
The loading of sucrose into sieve tubes is active (uses ). The resulting high solute concentration draws water into the sieve tubes by osmosis, generating high hydrostatic pressure. This pressure gradient drives the mass flow of sap from source (leaves) to sink (roots/growing regions).
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing translocation (transport of food via phloem) with transpiration (loss of water vapor via stomata) or ascent of sap (transport of water via xylem).
- 2Describing translocation as a purely passive physical process, forgetting that it requires metabolic energy (ATP).
Interesting Facts
Phloem sap can travel at speeds of up to 1 meter per hour, which is incredibly fast for microscopic cellular transport!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2024?
This question carries 2 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Life Processes" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Transportation in Plants" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 paper?
This is a Very Short Answer question from Section B in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2024 paper.