Plant Transport System Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the mechanisms, tissues, and processes involved in plant transport as described in the lecture notes.

Vascular Transport System

A specialized network in plants made up of xylem and phloem that moves water, minerals, and glucose throughout the body.

Xylem

Tissue made of dead cells forming hollow tubes with thick, lignified walls that transports water and minerals upward from the roots to the leaves.

Phloem

Tissue made of living sieve tubes and companion cells that transports glucose in all directions depending on plant needs.

Turgor Pressure

The internal pressure within plant cells maintained by water that keeps cells firm and prevents the plant from wilting.

Transpiration

The evaporation of water from the leaf stomata which creates a pull to move water upward through the plant.

Translocation

The active transport of glucose and sucrose through the phloem from a source to a sink.

Cohesion

The property of water molecules sticking to each other to help create a continuous water column.

Adhesion

The property of water molecules sticking to the walls of the xylem.

Tension

The pull created at the leaves by transpiration that draws water upward against gravity.

Source

The part of the plant where glucose is produced, primarily the leaves.

Sink

The part of the plant where glucose is needed or stored, such as roots, flowers, fruits, and growing stems.

Stomata

Pores in the leaves that regulate gas exchange and water loss.

Cohesion-Tension Mechanism

The process where cohesion, adhesion, and tension work together to move water upward from root to leaf.

Source-to-Sink Model

The model describing the multidirectional movement of phloem sap from production sites to storage or growth sites.

Transpiration Pull

A suction force created by the evaporation of water that helps draw water and nutrients upward from the roots.