FFA Floriculture Practice Test

Which part of the plant is responsible for transporting water and nutrients from the roots to other parts?

1. Phloem

2. Xylem

3. Stomata

4. Chloroplasts

The correct answer is: Xylem

The correct choice is based on the role of xylem in plant physiology. Xylem is the vascular tissue that primarily functions to transport water and dissolved minerals absorbed by the roots up through the plant to the stems and leaves. This transportation system is crucial for maintaining the plant's hydration and nutrient supply, supporting essential processes such as photosynthesis and growth. In contrast, phloem, the other type of vascular tissue, is responsible for transporting the products of photosynthesis, mainly sugars, from the leaves to various parts of the plant, particularly to areas where growth or storage occurs. Stomata are small openings on the surfaces of leaves that facilitate gas exchange, and they do not play a direct role in transporting water or nutrients. Chloroplasts are organelles within plant cells that conduct photosynthesis and are responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy; they do not function in the transport of water and nutrients. Thus, xylem’s essential role in upward transport distinguishes it from these other components.