Translocation is the movement of soluble products of photosynthesis and other substances throughout a plant. This process occurs in the phloem, a specialized vascular tissue responsible for transporting organic nutrients.
What is translocation in plants, and which vascular tissue is responsible for it?
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Translocation in plants refers to the movement of organic compounds, such as sugars produced in the leaves during photosynthesis, through the phloem vascular tissue to various parts of the plant. The phloem, a specialized plant vascular tissue, is responsible for translocation. It comprises sieve tubes, which are elongated cells with perforated end walls (sieve plates) that facilitate the flow of sap. Pressure flow, driven by osmotic pressure gradients, propels the sugars and other nutrients through the phloem. Translocation is essential for distributing the products of photosynthesis and supporting the metabolic needs of different plant tissues.