Introduction
Plants gain energy through photosynthesis, which creates glucose to fuel the plant. Glucose is moved from sugar sources (e.g., leaves) to sugar sinks (e.g., new growth) through phloem in a process called translocation.
A simple definition of translocation is the movement of materials from one area to another. In plants, plant translocation involves the movement of sugars from sources to sinks.
Leaves and storage locations in plants can be either sources or sinks depending on the season and plant's stage of development.
Sources and Sinks
Leaves and storage locations in plants can be either sources or sinks depending on the season and plant's stage of development.
In the growing season, leaves are sugar sources, actively photosynthesizing and creating sugars. Excess sugars are transported to sinks, such as areas of new growth.
Sugars can also be used to grow storage locations such as roots and bulbs.
When the growing season ends, the plant drops leaves and does not photosynthesize.
Storage locations in plants, such as roots, tubers, and bulbs, are initially sugar sinks because they need sugar to grow.
However, once fully developed, roots, tubers, and bulbs then act as sugar sources because they have accumulated stores of sugar. When the growing season begins, the plant has no leaves to photosynthesize and produce sugar.
Instead, the plant must use the sugar stored in its roots, tubers, or bulbs to fuel new growth.
1.How does the pressure flow mechanism work in translocation?
2.What role do companion cells play in translocation?
3.What is phloem sap and what does it contain?
4.How is translocation different from transpiration?
5.What factors can affect the rate of translocation?
What is the role of phloem in the process of translocation and how does it facilitate the movement of nutrients within a plant ?