Xylem Xylem is a complex tissue composed of xylem vessels, xylem tracheids, xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma. 1.

Xylem vessels: Xylem vessels comprise a vertical chain of lengthened, dead cells known as vessel elements. The cells are arranged end to end and the cross-walls dissolve completely or have simple or complex perforation plates between successive cells. The secondary walls of vessels are impregnated with lignin and are thickened unevenly. The walls of the vessels may be thickened in different ways, e.g. annular, spiral and pitted thickening may be observed. 2. Xylem tracheids: A tracheids is an elongated cell, the contents of which are non-living. The cell walls are thickened, impregnated with lignin and the lumen is smaller. As in the case of vessels, there is adifferentiation between annular, spiral and pitted tracheids again caused by the type of thickening of the secondary walls. Tracheids have no perforation plates. 3. Xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma bear a strong resemblance to normal fibres and parenchyma. Xylem fibres are sometimes separated by thin cross walls and the walls of xylem parenchyma are sometimes thicker than those of normal parenchyma. Functions:
o o o

xylem is an important strengthening tissue, xylem vessels and tracheids transport water and mineral salts, starch is sometimes stored in the xylem fibres and xylem parenchyma.

Phloem Phloem is a complex tissue composed of sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem fibres and phloem parenchyma 1. Sieve Tubes: A sieve tube, like xylem vessels, is a series of cells (sieve elements) joined end to end. The cross walls between successive cells (sieve elements) become perforated forming sieve plates. The cell walls are thin. Although the cell contents are living, the nucleus disintegrates and disappears. The lumen is filled with a slimy sap which is composed mainly of protein. 2. Companion Cells: Companion Cells are specialized parenchyma cells which always appear with the sieve tube element. They are also elongated, thin-walled and there is a distinct nucleus in the cytoplasm of the companion cell. Companion cells are linked with the sieve tubes by small canals filled with cytoplasm, which are smaller than pits. 3. Phloem Fibres: These cells are elongated tapering cells, found particular in the stem. They have thickened walls. 4. Phloem Parenchyma: Phloem Parenchyma is living and has thin cell walls. These cells form the packing tissue between all the other types of cells. Functions:
o o o o

sieve tubes transport organic compounds, companion cells helps to regulate the metabolic activities of the sieve tube elements, the phloem fibres give the plant mechanical strength, the phloem parenchyma stores compounds such as starch.

Phloem
Function: Transportation of food and nutrients such as sugar and amino acids from leaves to storage organs and growing parts of plant. This movement of substances is called translocation. Bidirectional (Moves up or down the plant's stem from "source to sink") Roots, stems and leaves. transports sucrose to growth (roots and shoots) and storage regions of the plant (seeds fruit and swollen roots) Forms vascular bundles with xylem

Xylem
Water and mineral transport fromroots to aerial parts of the plant.

Movement:

Unidirectional (Moves up the plant's stem) Roots, stems and leaves

Occurrence:

Additional Functions:

Forms vascular bundles with phloem and gives mechanical strength to plant due to presence of lignin cells. The lignified secondarywall also makes the xylem waterproof and prevent it from collapsing under the pressure of water transpiration Tubular shape with no cross walls which allows a continuous column of water + facilitates more rapid transport within the xylem vessels. There are two types - protoxylem (first formed xylem) + metaxylem (mature xylem) depending on pattern of lignin. Tracheids, vessel elements, xylem parenchyma (loosely packed resulting in intercellular spaces which allows gas exchange), xylem sclerenchyma

Structure:

Elongated, tubular shape with thin walled sieve tubes. The sieve tubes have pores at each end in the cross walls and microtubules that extend between sieve elements allowing longitudinal flow of material.

Elements:

Sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma (loosely packed resulting in intercellular spaces which allows gas exchange), bast fibers, intermediarycells, Living tissue with little cytoplasm but no nucleus/tonoplast. Phloem is not star shaped. Phloem occur on outer side of the vascular bundle.

Nature of tissue:

Dead tissue at maturity so it is hollow with no cell contents Xylem is star shaped. xylem occupy the center of the vascular bundle.

Shape: Location in vascular bundle:

Both xylem and phloem are vascular tissues found in a plant. Xylem is a tubular structure which is responsible for water transport from the roots towards all of the parts of the plant. Phloem is also a tubular structure but is responsible for the transportation of food and other nutrients needed by plant. Xylem imports water and minerals while Phloem transports water and food. Xylem exists as non-living tissue at maturity, but phloem is living cells. Xylem: Hard wall cells transport water and mineral nutrients Phloem: Relatively soft -walled cells transport organic nutrients "Hardness and softness" is a function of the amount of lignification and extractive content of the individual cell walls not there location in the tree. Xylem: 1. It is a dead complex permanent tissue. Sapwood is xylem and mostly alive 2. It is the principal water conducting tissue of vascular plants. 3. Xylem consists of tracheids , vessels , xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres. Also ray parenchyma Also the xylem of softwoods (Gymnospermae) do NOT contain vessels.

Phloem: 1. It is a living complex permanent tissue. Inner phloem is alive. Outer phloem is dead. 2. It is the principal food conducting tissue found in vascular plants. Actually only the first .2-.7mm of the phloem is functional in food transport. The rest is non-functioning (ref. Esau's Plant Anatomy, 3rd ed. 2006, Chap.14) also (ALFIERI, F. J., and R. F. EVERT. 1968. Seasonal development of the secondary phloem in Pinus. Am. J. Bot. 55, 518-528.) 3. It consists of sieve cells , sieve tube elements , phloem parenchyma and phloem fibres. There are also phloem ray cells.