Difference Between Xylem and Phloem

Difference between xylem and phloem is an important aspect of Biology. Furthermore, these two are types of vascular tissues that exist in plants and they transport the essential materials among the various parts of the plants. Moreover, xylem and phloem constitute vascular bundles when they are together.

Definition of Xylem

Xylem refers to the permanent and dead tissue that carries water and essential substances in the plant. The primary function of xylem is the transportation of water, soluble nutrients, inorganic ions, and minerals. Furthermore, this transportation happens in an upwards manner from the roots to the other parts of the plants.

Definition of Phloem

Phloem refers to a complex tissue that transports soluble organic compounds throughout the vascular plants. Phloem uses energy and turgor pressure to transport sugars and other substances to various organs of the plant. One difference between xylem and phloem is that the former is a non-living tissue while the latter is living.

Difference Between Xylem and Phloem

Important difference between xylem and phloem

Parameter	Xylem	Phloem
Meaning	Complex tissue of plants that transports water and nutrients within the plant	Living tissue that transports food and organic materials within the plant
Type of Cell	Contains dead cells with the exception of parenchyma	Contains of mostly living cells
Materials	It comprises of fibre, tracheids, and xylem vessels	It comprises of sieve cells, sieve tubes, phloem fibres, phloem parenchyma, and companion cells
Location	The location of xylem is deep in the plant, in the centre of vascular bundle	The location of phloem is on the outer side of the plant’s vascular bundle
Mechanical Support	It provides mechanical support	Provides no mechanical support
Type of Movement	Undirectional	Bidirectional
Xylem and Phloem functioning	Transports only waters and minerals from roots	Transports food materials whose preparation takes place by the green parts of the plant
Proportion of Plant	Xylem constitutes mostly the bulk of the body of the plant	Phloem constitutes a small part of the body of the plant
Conducting Cells	In xylem, the conducting cells are dead	In phloem, the conducting cells are certainly living

More Details about Xylem

Xylem cells form long tubes whose function is to transport materials. Furthermore, xylem sap refers to the mixture of water and nutrients that flows via xylem cells. Moreover, the transportation of these substances takes place through passive transport, with no requirement of energy.

Capillary action refers to the phenomenon that facilitates the upward flowing of xylem sap against gravity. Moreover, capillary action happens when the liquid moves upwards due to surface tension. Furthermore, xylem aids the water to move up by adhering to the xylem cells.

Xylem comprises various types of cells. Furthermore, tracheids refer to the long cells that facilitate the transportation of xylem sap besides providing structural support. Vessel elements, in contrast, are shorter and assist in conducting water. Moreover, xylem contains parenchyma, which is a tissue that comprises most of the plants’ soft parts.

More Details about Phloem

Going into details will certainly help in understanding the difference xylem and phloem in a better manner. Furthermore, phloem moves photoassimilates through the system of translocation primarily in the form of proteins and sucrose sugars. Moreover, this movement takes place from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

Due to a high concentration of organic substances within the cells, the creation of an osmotic gradient takes place. Furthermore, the drawing of water takes place passively from the adjacent xylem. Consequently, the creation of high turgor pressure and sugar solution takes place within the phloem which causes important substances to move to various parts of plants.

The structure of the phloem certainly comprises of several components- sieve elements, sieve plates, companion cells, parenchyma, and sclerenchyma. Furthermore, these components work together to assist the conduction of amino acids and sugars. Moreover, this conduction takes place from a source to the sink tissues.

FAQs about Xylem and Phloem

Question 1: State one point of difference between xylem and phloem?

Answer 1: One difference between xylem and phloem is with respect to their location. Furthermore, the location of xylem is deep in the plant and it is in the centre of the vascular bundle. In contrast, the location of phloem is on the vascular bundle’s outer side.

Question 2: Tell about conducting cells in xylem and phloem?

Answer 2: The conducting cells in xylem are dead while they are certainly living in phloem.

References:

Wikipedia Xylem

Wikipedia Phloem