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Related Concept Videos

Phloem and Sugar Transport02:02

Phloem and Sugar Transport

Like many living organisms, plants have tissues that specialize in specific plant functions. For example, shoots are well adapted to rapid growth, while roots are structured to acquire resources efficiently. However, sugar production is primarily restricted to the photosynthetic cells that reside in the leaves of angiosperm plants. Sugar and other resources are transported from photosynthetic tissues to other specialized tissues by a process called translocation.
Short-distance Transport of Resources02:12

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
The Apoplast and Symplast01:46

The Apoplast and Symplast

Plant growth depends on its ability to take up water and dissolved minerals from the soil. The root system of every plant is equipped with the necessary tissues to facilitate the entry of water and solutes. The plant tissues involved in the transport of water and minerals have two major compartments - the apoplast and the symplast. The apoplast includes everything outside the plasma membrane of living cells and consists of cell walls, extracellular spaces, xylem, phloem, and tracheids. The...
Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources02:03

Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.
Transcellular Transport of Solutes01:23

Transcellular Transport of Solutes

Transcellular transport of solutes is the movement of substances like monosaccharides and amino acids through polarized cells. This transport mechanism is primarily seen in epithelial and endothelial cells aided by membrane transport proteins such as channels and transporters. The tight junctions between these cells confine the membrane proteins to the two sides of the cell. The epithelial cells have distinct apical and basolateral domains. In contrast, the endothelial cells show the luminal...
Facilitated Diffusion01:16

Facilitated Diffusion

The plasma membrane, a critical structure in cellular biology, houses an array of transporters, or carrier proteins, interspersed within its lipid bilayer. These proteins play a crucial role in solute transport through facilitated diffusion, a form of passive diffusion that uses transporters to move the molecules across the membrane.
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...

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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Direct Infusion Device for Molecule Delivery in Plants
08:52

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Published on: June 2, 2023

Post-phloem transport: principles and problems.

D B Fisher1, K J Oparka

  • 1Department of Botany, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4238, USA.

Journal of Experimental Botany
|January 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plant assimilate movement to sinks primarily follows a symplastic pathway. Quantitative data on transport conductances and driving forces remain limited, hindering a full understanding of sink import control.

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Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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Published on: June 2, 2023

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Physiology
  • Phloem Transport
  • Sink-Source Interactions

Background:

  • Assimilate movement from sieve element/companion cell complex to sinks is crucial for plant growth.
  • Understanding transport pathways, conductances, and driving forces is essential for plant science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on assimilate movement pathways, conductances, and driving forces in diverse plant sinks.
  • To identify knowledge gaps in quantitative aspects of post-phloem transport and sink import control.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on assimilate transport in various plant sinks.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on symplastic vs. apoplastic pathways.
  • Evaluation of data on transport conductances and driving forces.

Main Results:

  • The symplastic pathway is the predominant route for assimilate movement in most studied sinks.
  • Methods for demonstrating apoplastic transport are less developed.
  • Quantitative data on post-phloem transport conductances and driving forces are scarce and often difficult to interpret.
  • Interactions between apoplastic and symplastic pathways complicate solute movement evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • Further quantitative measurements and experimental ingenuity are required to fully understand sink import regulation.
  • A deeper understanding of assimilate transport dynamics is critical for plant physiology and agricultural applications.