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ICSE Question Bank
2018Q1(e)(iv)Transpiration
Correct the statementModerate1 mark
1(e)

Correct the following statements by changing the underlined words:

XYLEM transports starch from the leaves to all parts of the plant body.

Topic: Phloem

Previous-year question practice database

Answer

Exam answer

PHLOEM transports food from the leaves to all parts of the plant body.

Explanation

THE DISTINCTION, which is examined constantly: XYLEM — carries WATER and MINERALS, UPWARD only, from root to leaf PHLOEM — carries prepared FOOD, in BOTH directions, from the leaves to wherever it is needed. This is TRANSLOCATION.

A SECOND POINT worth knowing, though the marking scheme asks only for the underlined word: food is transported not as STARCH but as SUCROSE. Starch is insoluble and cannot move; it is converted to soluble sucrose for transport and re-converted to starch for storage at its destination.

That is also why the leaf stores starch and the potato tuber stores starch — but what travels between them is sugar.

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