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A Handbook of Biology

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Plants do not have interstitial fluid and circulatory system. But they need

to move various substances (water, minerals, organic nutrients, growth

regulators etc. over long distances.

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Over small distances substances move by diffusion & by cytoplasmic

streaming supplemented by active transport.

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Transport over long distances proceeds through the vascular system

(xylem and phloem) which is called translocation.

DÏRËÇTÏØÑ ØF TRÅÑSPØRT

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Unidirectional transport: E.g. Transport of water and minerals in xylem

(from roots to the stems, leaves etc.).

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Multidirectional transport/bidirectional transport E.g.- Transport of

photosynthates (organic compounds) through phloem.

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Transport of mineral nutrients.

(NEET 2019)

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Sometimes, plant hormones and other chemical stimuli are transported

in a polarised or unidirectional manner from where they are synthesised

to other parts.

MËÅÑS ØF TRÅÑSPØRT

DÏFFÜSÏØÑ

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It is the slow movement of gases, liquids and solutes from higher

concentrated region to lower concentrated region without the

energy expenditure. Movement by diffusion is passive.

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It may be from one part of the cell to the other or from cell to cell,

or over short distances.

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Diffusion is a slow process.

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It is not dependent on a ‘living system’.

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It is the only means for gaseous movement in a plant body.

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Diffusion is obvious in gases and liquids.

FÅÇTØRS ÅFFËÇTÏÑG DÏFFÜSÏØÑ RÅTËS:

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Concentration gradient

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Permeability of the membrane