How does phloem contribute to nutrient transport?

The phloem plays a key role in transporting nutrients, especially the sugars made during photosynthesis, to all parts of a plant.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sugar production:
   Leaves make sugars (mainly sucrose) through photosynthesis.
2. Loading into phloem:
   These sugars move into the phloem sieve tubes with the help of companion cells.
3. Movement through the plant:
   The sugars travel through the phloem by a process called translocation.
   • Water from nearby xylem enters the phloem, creating pressure.
   • This pressure pushes the sugary solution (sap) to areas where it is needed, like roots, fruits, and growing shoots.
4. Unloading at destination:
   The sugars are then taken out of the phloem and used by cells for energy, growth, or storage (as starch).

In simple terms, the phloem distributes food from the leaves to all parts of the plant, ensuring that every cell gets the nutrients it needs to live and grow.