Question

What are the main water-conducting elements of the xylem in gymnosperms?

Answer 1

Xylem is a vascular plant specialised tissue that distributes water and nutrients from the plant–soil interface to stems and leaves, as well as providing mechanical support and storage. One of the most defining characteristics of vascular plants is the water-conducting function of the xylem. Water is the most important solvent for plant nutrition and metabolism, as well as photosynthesis.

Complete answer:
Tracheids are the primary water conductors in gymnosperm xylem. These are elongated cells with tapering ends that have died due to lignin buildup. Scalariform, annular, reticulate, or bordered pitting thickening can be seen. In both gymnosperms and pteridophytes, these are the only water-conducting xylem components. Gymnosperms, in general, lack vessels, with exceptions such as Gnetum , Welwitschia , and Ephedra.

Water and mineral salts are transported from the roots to other parts of the plant by xylem, whereas sucrose and amino acids are transported between the leaves and other sections of the plant via phloem.

Due to the lack of vessels or vessel components, Gymnosperms are said to have non-porous wood. The presence of vessels in the xylem as water-conducting tissues is a distinguishing trait of advanced angiosperms. The vessels are absent in primitive angiosperms such as the Winteraceae, Tetracentraceae, and Trochodendraceae, as well as gymnosperms.

In these plants, the tracheids are the primary water-conducting tissue.

Note:-
Unlike xylem, cytoplasm is found in phloem vessels, and it passes via holes from one cell to the next. Sucrose and amino acids are transported up and down the plant by phloem. This is referred to as translocation. In general, this occurs between the point at which these substances are created (the sources) and the point at which they are consumed or kept (the sinks). Sucrose, for example, is carried in this manner: In the spring, sources in the root lead to sinks in the leaves, in the summer, from sources in the leaves to sinks in the root.