Which tissue transports sugars throughout the plant?

Which tissue transports sugars throughout the plant?

• A. Phloem
• B. Xylem
• C. Cortex
• D. Epidermis

Answer: (A)

Sugars are moved through phloem, a vascular tissue specialized for long-distance transport of organic nutrients produced by photosynthesis. Phloem contains sieve-tube elements that form continuous tubes for sap flow, supported by companion cells that load and unload sugars and provide metabolic help. The movement follows a pressure-flow mechanism: sugars are actively loaded into the phloem at source tissues, which draws water into the phloem from neighboring xylem and raises turgor pressure, driving sap toward sinks where sugars are unloaded. This contrasts with xylem, which carries water and minerals from roots to shoots, not sugars. Cortex and epidermis are not responsible for transporting nutrients long-distance; cortex is ground tissue involved in storage and support, while epidermis forms the outer protective layer. So the tissue that transports sugars throughout the plant is the phloem.

Sugars are moved through phloem, a vascular tissue specialized for long-distance transport of organic nutrients produced by photosynthesis. Phloem contains sieve-tube elements that form continuous tubes for sap flow, supported by companion cells that load and unload sugars and provide metabolic help. The movement follows a pressure-flow mechanism: sugars are actively loaded into the phloem at source tissues, which draws water into the phloem from neighboring xylem and raises turgor pressure, driving sap toward sinks where sugars are unloaded. This contrasts with xylem, which carries water and minerals from roots to shoots, not sugars. Cortex and epidermis are not responsible for transporting nutrients long-distance; cortex is ground tissue involved in storage and support, while epidermis forms the outer protective layer. So the tissue that transports sugars throughout the plant is the phloem.