IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

Chapter 8
Transport in Plants
The stuff you need to know in this chapter:
8.1 TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
Core:
• State the functions of xylem and phloem
• Identify the position of xylem and phloem as seen in sections of roots, stems and leaves, limited to non-woody
dicotyledonous plants
• Identify root hair cells, as seen under the light microscope, and state their functions
8.2 WATER UPTAKE
Core:
• State the pathway taken by water through root, stem and leaf as root hair cell, root cortex cells, xylem and mesophyll
cells
• Investigate using a suitable stain, the pathway of water through the above ground parts of a plant
Extended:
• Explain that the large surface area of root hairs increase the rate of the absorption of water by osmosis and ions by
active transport

8.3 TRANSPIRATION
Core:
• State that water is transported from the roots to leaves through the xylem vessels
• Define transpiration as loss of water vapour from plant leaves by evaporation of water at the surfaces of the mesophyll
cells followed by diffusion of water vapour through the stomata
• Investigate and describe the effects of variation of temperature and humidity on transpiration rate
Extended:
• Explain how water vapour loss is related to the large surface area of cell surfaces, interconnecting air spaces and
stomata
• Explain the mechanism by which water moves upwards in the xylem in terms of a transpiration pull that draws up a
column of water molecules, held together by cohesion
• Explain how and why wilting occurs
• Explain the effects of variation of temperature and humidity on transpiration rate

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
8.4 TRANSLOCATION (Extended candidates only)
Extended:
• Define translocation in terms of the movement of sucrose and amino acids in phloem: from regions of production
(source) to regions of storage or to regions where they are used in respiration or growth (sink)
• Explain that some parts of a plant may act as a source and a sink at different times during the life of a plant

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
8.1 TRANSPORT IN PLANTS
State the function of the following components of the vascular bundle:

Xylem:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Phloem:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Look at the following images. In each one label the xylem and phloem.

Zea stem (dicotyledonous):

Erica leaf (dicotyledonous):

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
Look at the sketch below and label the xylem and phloem in each. Also label each of the diagrams as “leaf”,
“stem” or “root”.

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
8.2 WATER UPTAKE
Look at the images below of root hair cells. Draw a single root hair cell on the box (remember to follow the
rules of biological drawings:

Root hair cells vary in length between 80µm and 1,500µm. Assuming the cell picture above is 100 µm in
length, calculate the magnification of your drawing. SHOW YOUR WORKING
(Help: µm = “micrometer”. There are 1000µm in one mm)

ANSWER: _________________________________

Name the process by which root hair cells take in water.

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
Name the process by which root hair cells take in ions
(by the way, the concentration of ions inside the root hair cells is usually higher that their surroundings).

State how the structure of root hair cells makes them suitable for their function.

8.3 TRANSPIRATION
Define “Transpiration”

There are many air spaces in the leaf. Explain how this aids water loss with transpiration.

When stomata open, they allow water to escape from the leaf. In terms of changes in term of water potential
and evaporation, describe how this encourages more water to move towards the leaves.

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

Explain the effect following things effect the rate of transpiration from a leaf
Temperature Humidity Wind Speed

Light Intensity Water Supply

Explain why plants “wilt” (go soft/limp)

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
Draw and label a piece of apparatus that can be used to measure the rate of transpiration.

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
8.4 TRANSLOCATION
Define the word “translocation”

Use the word “source” and “sink” in sentences NOT related to biology:

Source sentence:

Sink sentence:

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
Complete the table to state the sources and sinks of carbohydrates in plants (These carbohydrates might
include glucose, sucrose, starch and others).

Sources Sinks
All parts of the plant, including:
• _______________, where it may
be converted into
_______________ and stored.
Glucose is produced mostly in the
• The _________________, which
_____________ of the plant. This can be
use sucrose to make
converted into ________________ and
_______________, which attracts
transported away.
insects.
• _______________, which are often
very sweet and attract animals to eat
them.
In some plants (e.g. potatoes)
_______________ is stored in the tubers
The growing _______________ and
(the potatoes), which stay _______________
_______________ of the potato plant
when the temperature is low over winter. These
receive _______________ from the tubers.
tubers act as a source of starch during
_______________ time.

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IGCSE Biology (O610) Workbook
You should realize from the table that different parts of a plant can be both a source AND a sink at different
times.
Draw a diagram to summarise how the different parts of potato plant act as both sources and sinks at
different times of year. (Remember scientific drawing rules and labels).

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