difference between xylem and phloem with definition

Xylem and phloem are two concepts that refer to vascular plant tissues. These two types of fabrics, everything and that there is some confusion between them, are completely different. In this article we explain all their differences so that you can distinguish them perfectly. difference between xylem and phloem with definition

Main differences : difference between xylem and phloem with definition

• The main difference is that xylem carries out the transport of a set of nutrients known as “raw sap”, while phloem carries the organic and inorganic nutrients “processed sap” produced during photosynthesis.
• Xylem is the main conductor of water, while phloem is the main conductor of nutrients in the plant.
• Another difference is that the xylem carries out the transport in a unidirectional way; whereas, in the phloem, the transport is carried out in a multidirectional way.
• Finally, the xylem carries substances from the roots to the leaves; while the phloem does it from the leaves to the rest of the plant.

What is Xylem? difference between xylem and phloem with definition

The woody tissue that metaphytic plants have is known as xylem. This plant tissue is made up of the vessels, the parenchyma and the fibers through which the ascending sap circulates. In other words, it is a set of woody vessels of cormophyte vegetables, which serves to transport the raw sap from the root to the leaves.

Characteristics of xylem

One of the things that must be noted about xylem is that their vessels do not have the same diameter, but rather that their size varies depending on the time; so in peak times these are larger.

Everything that the xylem carries is called sap, and in it is water, salts, minerals and other nutrients of great importance.

On the other hand, it should also be noted that the xylem consists of several types of tubular cells, which are characterized by the presence of a secondary cell wall.

The xylem is formed by a primary tissue, which includes the growth points of the stems and roots; and by another secondary tissue, located between the xylem and the phloem.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that this tissue has conductive elements, which are the tracheids, a conductive cell whose tip resembles the tip of a hypodermic needle.  

What is a phloem?

In botany, the term phloem, also known as sieve tissue, refers to the tissue that certain plants present, whose job is to conduct certain substances through these organisms; these substances being organic and inorganic nutrients.

This tissue plays a more than important role, since it allows the transfer of the nutrients produced by the autotrophic and photosynthetic sector.

Phloem characteristics

As a main characteristic we have that there are two types of phloem, the primary one, which is associated with the primary xylem, thus constituting the vascular bundles. The secondary phloem has its origin in the cambium located towards the periphery of the stem or root.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the phloem is composed of parenchymal and scribal cells. As for the parenchymal cells, these are found in volatile quantities, and carry out the translation and dispatch of the sieving compounds.

And when it comes to scribble tubes, they are of varying thickness and contiguous walls. These can be defined as prolonged cells where the partitions at the ends are pierced by a multitude of tiny pores.