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describe the process by which water in the soil reaches the xylem tisses in plants

Transportation of water and minerals in plants

Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil and transport them to the leaves. How is water absorbed by the roots?

Roots have numerous root hairs that increase the surface area for the absorption of water and minerals. These root hairs are in contact with the water present in the soil. Water enters the cells of the root hair by the process of osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. Hence, they perform the function of absorption.

How is the absorbed water transported to leaves?

Plants have tube-like vessels to transport water and nutrients to other parts of the plant. These vessels are made up of special type of cells and are known as the vascular tissues. The vascular tissue that transports water and minerals in plants is known as thexylem. It forms a network of channels that connects the root to the stem and the leaves of the plant. Hence, water is transported to various plant parts.

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Once in the xylem tissue, water moves easily over long distances in these open tubes (Figure 5). There are two kinds of conducting elements (i.e., transport tubes) found in the xylem: 1) tracheids and 2) vessels (Figure 6). Tracheids are smaller than vessels in both diameter and length, and taper at each end. Vessels consist of individual cells, or "vessel elements", stacked end-to-end to form continuous open tubes, which are also called xylem conduits. Vessels have diameters approximately that of a human hair and lengths typically measuring about 5 cm although some plant species contain vessels as long as 10 m. Xylem conduits begin as a series of living cells but as they mature the cells commit suicide (referred to as programmed cell death), undergoing an ordered deconstruction where they lose their cellular contents and form hollow tubes. Along with the water conducting tubes, xylem tissue contains fibers which provide structural support, and living metabolically-active parenchyma cells that are important for storage of carbohydrates, maintenance of flow within a conduit (see details about embolism repair below), and radial transport of water and solutes.

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Once in the xylem tissue, water moves easily over long distances in these open tubes (Figure 5). There are two kinds of conducting elements (i.e., transport tubes) found in the xylem: 1) tracheids and 2) vessels (Figure 6). Tracheids are smaller than vessels in both diameter and length, and taper at each end. Vessels consist of individual cells, or "vessel elements", stacked end-to-end to form continuous open tubes, which are also called xylem conduits. Vessels have diameters approximately that of a human hair and lengths typically measuring about 5 cm although some plant species contain vessels as long as 10 m. Xylem conduits begin as a series of living cells but as they mature the cells commit suicide (referred to as programmed cell death), undergoing an ordered deconstruction where they lose their cellular contents and form hollow tubes. Along with the water conducting tubes, xylem tissue contains fibers which provide structural support, and living metabolically-active parenchyma cells that are important for storage of carbohydrates, maintenance of flow within a conduit (see details about embolism repair below), and radial transport of water and solutes.

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Water is transported upwards from the roots by a process called osmosis. This occurs in a layer of tissue called xylem consisting of elongated cells joined end to end.

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Water is transported upwards from the roots by a process called osmosis. This occurs in a layer of tissue called xylem consisting of elongated cells joined end to end.

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Water is transported upwards from the roots by a process called osmosis. This occurs in a layer of tissue called xylem consisting of elongated cells joined end to end.

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Water is transported upwards from the roots by a process called osmosis. This occurs in a layer of tissue called xylem consisting of elongated cells joined end to end.

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Water is transported upwards from the roots by a process called osmosis. This occurs in a layer of tissue called xylem consisting of elongated cells joined end to end.

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Water is transported upwards from the roots by a process called osmosis. This occurs in a layer of tissue called xylem consisting of elongated cells joined end to end.

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