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Phloem and Sugar Transport

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.

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Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...

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Plant Hormones

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Collection and Analysis of Arabidopsis Phloem Exudates Using the EDTA-facilitated Method

Collection and Analysis of Arabidopsis Phloem Exudates Using the EDTA-facilitated Method

Published on: October 23, 2013

Phloem Development and Function in Plants: Implications for Flowering, Nitrogen Fixation, and Crop Yield.

Hong Li¹, Lanxin Li¹, Meiling Zhong¹

¹Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Adaptation and Molecular Design, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Editing, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.

Plant, Cell & Environment

|October 13, 2025

Summary

Phloem transports sugars and signals like FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) to regulate plant development and flowering. Understanding phloem function is key to improving crop yield and quality.

Keywords:

flowering nodulation phloem stress sugar allocation

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Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Molecular Physiology

Background:

Vascular bundles, comprising xylem and phloem, are crucial for transport in tracheophytes.
Phloem's role in plant development and physiology has seen significant recent advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

To review genes and proteins controlling phloem cell development and function.
To highlight phloem's roles in sink organ development, flowering time, and nitrogen fixation.

Main Methods:

Literature review of gene and protein functions in Arabidopsis and crop plants.
Discussion of phloem-mediated sugar allocation and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) transport.

Main Results:

Phloem is critical for allocating sugars to sink tissues.
Phloem transports FT protein to induce flowering.
Sugar distribution via phloem is vital for nitrogen fixation in legume root nodules.

Conclusions:

Understanding phloem mechanisms provides insights into plant growth and development.
Phloem research offers potential strategies for enhancing crop yield and quality.