In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly and using specialist terms where appropriate. Plants transport many substances between their leaves and roots. The diagram below shows the direction of movement of substances through a plant.Describe how ions, water and sugar are obtained and transported through plants. In your answer you should refer to materials moving upwards in a plant and to materials moving downwards in a plant.  – 7014

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1. Mineral ions are absorbed from the soil into the root hair cells by diffusion if there is a high concentration in the soil, or by active transport if the concentration in the soil is lower than in the plant. These ions are then transported through the plant in the xylem vessels to reach the leaves.

   Water is taken up by osmosis, moving from a high water potential (in the soil) to a low water potential (in the root hair cells). It travels through the plant in the xylem, moving to the leaves or other parts where it is needed. The water movement is part of the transpiration stream, which continues as water evaporates from the leaves. This helps pull more water up the xylem.

   Sugars, such as glucose, are made during photosynthesis in the leaves. They are transported in the phloem to other parts of the plant, including growing areas or storage organs like roots or fruits. The sugars can travel up and down the plant depending on where they are needed.

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