Food Delivery

   Translocation is the re-location of nutrients in the leaves to other tissues/ organs in the plant. Photosynthesis occurs in the leaves and produces carbohydrates (food).  Translocation sends these carbohydrates to parts of the plant that are non-photosynthetic. The carbohydrates are accompanied by other materials such as organic and non organic materials. The food is re-located to such places like roots, stems, flowers, and developing leaves.



Showing the leaves of the bebe corn.



   Phloem is the tissue used for translocation. It carries organic material, mostly sucrose, to all parts of the plant. It mainly transports soluble organic matter that was produced during photosynthesis to parts of the plant that are non-photosynthetic. Phloem is made up of living cells, where as xylem is mainly dead cells.
   Phloem cells:

• sieve
• companion / albuminous

Sieve cells have few organelles in them in order to keep the rate of the flow of the nutrients throughout the plant high. These other cells are called companion cells and albuminous cells that control the sieve cells. Theses cells have a nucleus, and much more mitochondria and ribosomes.