Xylem is the principal water conducting tissue in vascular plants.

It is also involved in conducting dissolved minerals, in food storage, and in supporting the plant body. As in animals, tissues in plants are groupings of different cell types that work together for a common function. Xylem is a complex tissue. In angiosperms, it is composed of five cell types: tracheids,

vessels, xylem parenchyma, sclereids (short sclerenchyma cells), and fibers.The tracheids and vessel elements form the bulk of the tissue. They are heavily strengthened and are the conducting cells of the xylem. Parenchyma cells are involved in storage, while fibers and sclereids provide support. When mature, xylem is dead.

The Structure of Xylem Tissue

/i.ifa Xylem vessels form continuous tubes throughout the plant.

Spiral thickening of lignin around the walls of the vessel elements give extra strength allowing the vessels to remain rigid and upright. This cross section through the stem, Helianthus (sunflower) shows the central pith, surrounded by a peripheral ring of vascular bundles. Note the xylem vessels with -their thickwalls.

Xylem is dead when mature. Note how the cells have lost their cytoplasm.

Tip of tracheid Secondary walls are laid down and lignified to add strength

Pits and bordered pits that allow transfer of water between cells

Fibers are a type of sclerenchyma cell. They are associated with vascular tissues and usually occur in groups. The cells are very elongated and taper to a point and the cell walls are heavily thickened. Fibers give mechanical support to tissues, providing both strength and elasticity.

The end walls are perforated to allow rapid water transport

No cytoplasm or nucleus in mature cell

. Vessel elements and tracheids are the two conducting cells types in xylem. Tracheids are long, tapering hollow cells. Water passes from one : tracheid to another through thin regions in the wall called pits. Vessel elements have pits, but the end walls are also perforated and water .flows unimpeded through the stacked elements.

Vessel elements are found only in the xylem of angiosperms. They are large diameter cells that offer very low resistance to water flow. The possession of vessels (stacks of vessel elements) provides angiosperms with a major advantage over gymnosperms and ferns as they allow for very rapid water uptake and transport.

r. Describe the function of xylem:

Identify the four main cell types in xylem and explain their role in the tissue:

(b)
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Hd)
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^Describe one way in which xylem is strengthened in a mature plant:

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Describe a feature of vessel elements that increases their efficiency of function: