Transportation in Plants

Content Standards

Students understand how water, minerals, and food are transported in plants.
They explore xylem and phloem functions, transpiration, and the role of stomata.

Performance Standards

Students will be able to:

Explain how roots absorb water and minerals.
Trace the path of water through xylem to leaves.
Describe transport of food through phloem.
Demonstrate transpiration and the role of stomata using VR Lab.

Alignment Standards

Reference: NCERT Grade 7 science – Chapter 7:Life Process in Plants

Section: Transportation in Plants

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Understand the need for transport in plants
Explore the role of xylem and phloem in transport
Explain the process of transpiration
Describe the role of stomata in water regulation
Relate transport in plants to their survival and growth

Prerequisites (Prior Knowledge)

Basic understanding of plant parts (root, stem, leaf).
Knowledge of photosynthesis and plant nutrition.
Awareness of the importance of water for plant growth.

Introduction

In this session, students will explore how plants move water and food throughout their bodies without having a heart or blood like animals. They will understand the function of xylem and phloem as transportation systems in plants.

Timeline (40 Minutes)

Title	Approximate Duration	Procedure	Reference Material
Engage	5	Show a tree image/video and ask: “How does water from the soil reach the top of a tall tree without a pump?” “If humans need a heart to pump blood, what do plants use?”	Slides
Explore	10	While interacting with the Virtual Lab, students investigate Roots & Absorption. “Why do roots have so many tiny hairs instead of just a smooth surface?” “If water always moves upward in xylem, what prevents it from falling back down?” “Why does food need to travel from leaves to roots, and not just stay in the leaves?”	Slides and Virtual Lab
Explain	10	Teacher explains with the help of Virtual Lab visuals: Xylem = water/mineral transport. Phloem = food transport. Stomata = pores controlling transpiration & gas exchange. Transpiration pull = driving force for upward water movement.	Slides and Virtual Lab
Evaluate	10	Students will attempt the Self Evaluation task on LMS	Virtual Lab
Extend	5	Scenario thinking: If a plant is kept in a completely closed glass jar with no opening, What do you think will happen to transpiration and gas exchange after a few hours? Why?”	Slides

Transportation in Plants

Introduction

Plants, like animals, also need a transport system to survive. Water, minerals, and food must reach every part of the plant. Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil, and leaves prepare food by photosynthesis. These materials need to be transported efficiently to different parts of the plant for growth, repair, and energy. Unlike animals, plants do not have a heart or blood, but they have a special system of tissues called the xylem and phloem for transportation.

Transportation in plants is mainly of two types:

Transport of water and minerals – from roots to different parts of the plant.
Transport of food – from leaves to other parts of the plant.

Theory

Introduction

Why is transportation essential in plants ?

1. Transport of Water and Minerals

Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil through tiny structures called root hairs.
Water enters the root cells by the process of osmosis.
This water and dissolved minerals move upward through a special tissue called xylem.
The movement of water in plants is supported by:
- Root pressure (pushing effect from roots).
- Capillary action (water rising in thin tubes of xylem).
- Transpiration pull (main force: loss of water from leaves during transpiration creates suction that pulls water upward).

Thus, even in tall trees, water can reach great heights without the help of a heart-like organ.

2. Transport of Food

The leaves prepare food (glucose) through photosynthesis.
This food is transported to all parts of the plant, including roots, stems, flowers, and fruits.
This is carried out by a special tissue called phloem.
The transport of food in plants is called translocation.
Unlike water transport (only upward), food transport in phloem takes place in both directions – upward and downward – depending on where it is needed.

3. Transpiration and Its Role in Transportation

Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water in the form of water vapour through tiny pores on leaves called stomata.
Functions of transpiration:
1. Helps in creating suction pull for upward movement of water.
2. Regulates temperature of the plant.
3. Maintains continuous flow of minerals from soil to leaves.

Comparison of Xylem and Phloem

Feature	Xylem	Phloem
Function	Transports water and minerals	Transports food (glucose and other nutrients)
Direction	Only upward (roots → leaves)	Both upward and downward
Structure	Made of vessels, tracheids, xylem fibers	Made of sieve tubes, companion cells
Energy Requirement	Passive process (does not need energy)	Active process (requires energy)

Application of transportation in Plants

Nutrient Distribution:
Function: Transportation allows for the movement of nutrients (like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) from the soil to various parts of the plant.Importance: This is crucial for growth, development, and overall health of the plant.
Water Supply:Function: Water is absorbed by the roots and transported through the xylem to the leaves and other parts of the plant.Importance: Water is essential for photosynthesis, maintaining turgor pressure, and cooling the plant through transpiration.
Photosynthesis:
Function: The products of photosynthesis (like glucose) are transported from the leaves to other parts of the plant through the phloem.Importance: This process provides energy for growth and development, as well as storage for future use.
Waste Removal:Function: Transportation helps in the removal of waste products from metabolic processes.Importance: This is essential for maintaining cellular health and preventing toxicity within the plant.
Growth Regulation:Function: Hormones and growth regulators are transported throughout the plant to coordinate growth and development.Importance: This ensures that the plant responds appropriately to environmental stimuli and optimizes growth.
Adaptation to Environmental Changes:
Function: Transportation systems allow plants to adapt to varying environmental conditions by adjusting the flow of water and nutrients.Importance: This adaptability is crucial for survival in changing climates and soil conditions.
Plant Breeding and Agriculture:
Function: Understanding transportation mechanisms can aid in breeding plants that are more efficient in nutrient and water uptake.Importance: This can lead to increased crop productivity and sustainability in agriculture, especially in areas with limited resources.

Vocabulary

This is the list of vocabulary terms used throughout the lesson.

Xylem:-Vascular tissue in plants responsible for transport of water and minerals.
Phloem:-Vascular tissue that transports food (mainly glucose) prepared by leaves.
Transpiration:-Loss of water vapors from leaves through stomata.
Osmosis:-Movement of water molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.
Root Pressure:-Upward push of water caused by continuous absorption at the roots.
Translocation:-Transport of food in plants through phloem.

Transportation in Plants

Introduction

Welcome to the Transportation in Plants Lab, an immersive XR experience designed to help students understand how water, minerals, and food are transported in plants. This simulation also explains the process of transpiration through stomata. Using 3D animations and interactive features, learners will explore how roots, stems, and leaves work together with xylem, phloem, and stomata to maintain life in plants.

Key Features

3D immersive plant model with roots, stem, leaves, and stomata.
Interactive animations of water/mineral movement through xylem.
Food transport simulation through phloem.
Transpiration demo showing water vapor escaping through stomata.
Text panels for clear explanations.
Quiz section where students identify tissues and processes on the 3D model.

Step-by-Step Procedure for VR Experience

Step 1: Enter the Virtual Lab

Students enter a 3D XR environment showing a healthy plant and information will be visible “We will explore transportation in plants through xylem, phloem, and stomata.”

Step 2: Exploring Plants

Students click the “Let’s go” button, Animation shows roots, Stem and Leaves

Step 3: Combined Transport View

The XR model highlights both xylem (upward flow) and phloem (downward flow) simultaneously in contrasting colours. Animation begins showing roots absorbing water and minerals from the soil.
The Info Panel emphasizes how xylem and phloem work together to keep the plant alive.

Step 4: Xylem and Phloem Transport

The next animation highlights xylem (blue upward flow) and phloem (green downward flow).
Info panel:

Xylem carries water and minerals from roots to leaves.”

Phloem transports food (sugar) made in leaves to other parts of the plant.”

Step 5: Cross Section of Leaf – Transpiration

The view zooms into a leaf cross-section.
Animation shows stomata opening and releasing water vapor.
Info panel: “Transpiration is the loss of water vapor from stomata. It helps in cooling the plant and pulling water upward through xylem.”

Step 6: Interactive Quiz

Students attempt quiz: 2 questions