Questions.

1. Outline the sequences of events which lead to the formation of mature xylem and sieve vessel. 2. Describe the structural and physiological differences between xylem and phloem vessels.

Answer.
Xylem is defined as the vascular tissue in plants that conducts water and dissolved nutrients upward from the root and also helps to form the woody element. While the phloem is defined as the vascular tissue in plants that conducts sugars and other metabolic products downward from the leaves. The main function of the sieve tube is to transport carbohydrates, primarily sucrose in the plant e.g. from the leaves to the fruits or roots. Unlike xylem vessels that are dead when mature sieve tubes are living cells. Phloem, like xylem, is a complex conducting tissue of vascular plants. Its main function is the long distance transport of sugars and other photosynthates from the source (mature leaves), or reserves (germinating seedlings) towards the sinks, e.g. roots, developing reproductive structures (flowers, fruits and seeds), meristems and young leaves

Formation of mature Xylem vessel.

Xylem formation begins when the actively dividing cells of growing root and shoot tips (apical meristems) give rise to primary xylem.

Xylem development involves 4 stages: Centrarch

In centrarch development there is one vascular strand and the protoxylem is located in the center surrounded by the metaxylem.

Endarch

In endarch development the protoxylem begins its development from the innermost procambial cells located adjacent to the pith and development progresses outward.

Exarch In exarch development the protoxylem begins development from the outermost edge of the procambial cylinder (the side closest to the stem) and development proceeds from the outside to the inside.

Hence, the protoxylem is found toward the outside and metaxylem toward the inside of the stem. This type of primary xylem development is considered a primitive condition in vascular land plants.

Formation of mature sieve vessel.

A sieve tube is an element of phloem tissue made out of a series longitudinal row of thin-walled elongated cells with perforations in their connecting walls of cells joined end to end, forming a tube through which nutrients are conducted in flowering plants and brown algae. During early development of young sieve tubes, sieve plates resemble normal cell walls. Later in development however, plasmodesmata in sieve plates undergo a significant structural alteration. Callose (a cell wall material similar to cellulose) is deposited around the plasmodesmata.

It has been found that the peripheral layer of cytoplasm found in the mature element is composed of flattened cisternae which are apparently derived from a tubular form of Endoplasmic Reticulum and possibly the nuclear envelope. Cisternae in the sieve tubes are usually associated with the slime in mature elements, and Tubular ER may be associated with the slime like material in the developing sieve tube element.

B.The structural and physiological differences between xylem and phloem vessels
Functional differences.

Function:

Transportation of food and nutrients from leaves to storage organs and growing parts of plant. Movement: Bidirectional (Moves up or down the plant 's stem from "source to sink") Occurrence: Roots, stems and leaves Additional Forms vascular bundles Functions: with xylem

Water and mineral transport from roots to aerial parts of the plant. Unidirectional (Moves up the plant 's stem) Roots, stems and leaves Forms vascular bundles with phloem and gives mechanical strength to

Structure: Elements:

Nature of tissue:

Tubular with soft walled cells Sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma, bast fibers, intermediary cells Living tissue

plant due to presence of lignified cells. Tubular with hard walled cells Tracheids, vessel elements, xylem parenchyma, xylem sclerenchyma Non living tissue at maturity

As the above small table well sums up: Xylem: It conducts water and minerals. It consists of many dead elements. Components of xylem include tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibers. Three of the four elements are dead. Only xylem parenchyma is living. In addition to conduction, xylem provides mechanical strength to plant. Conduction is mostly unidirectional, i.e. , from roots to apical parts of the plant. It conducts organic solutes or food materials. It consists of living tissue. Components of phloem include sieve tubes, companion cells , phloem parenchyma and phloem fibers. Three of four elements are living. Only phloem fibers are dead. Phloem performs no mechanical function for the plants. In its conduction may be bidirectional, i.e., from leaves to storage organs to growing parts of plants.

Phloem:

References. http://www.differencebetween.info/differencebetween-xylem-and-phloem http://www.google.rw/?gws_rd=cr&ei=_HcjUoP9JsO_0Q X4oYHIDg#q=define:phloem http://www.google.rw/?gws_rd=cr&ei=_HcjUoP9JsO_0Q X4oYHIDg#q=define:xylem http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/650951/xy lem http://public.wsu.edu/~knoblauch/Sieve_plate.htm\ http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/95/7/1179.full