During the growing season, a herbaceous plant invests heavily in the growth of its above-ground parts (stems, leaves, and flowers). Which of the following correctly describes the r... During the growing season, a herbaceous plant invests heavily in the growth of its above-ground parts (stems, leaves, and flowers). Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between source and sink tissues within this plant?
Understand the Problem
The question explores the source-sink relationship in herbaceous plants during the growing season, where the plant invests heavily in above-ground growth. It requires understanding which tissues act as sources (producing sugars) and which act as sinks (consuming sugars). This understanding would involve knowing the roles of mature leaves, developing leaves, stems, roots, and flowers in carbohydrate allocation.
Answer
Mature leaves and stems are sources, providing sugars to the sinks, which are new leaves, stems, flowers and roots.
During the growing season, mature leaves and stems act as sources, producing sugars through photosynthesis. These sugars are then transported to sink tissues such as new leaves, stems, flowers, and roots, which require energy for growth and development.
Answer for screen readers
During the growing season, mature leaves and stems act as sources, producing sugars through photosynthesis. These sugars are then transported to sink tissues such as new leaves, stems, flowers, and roots, which require energy for growth and development.
More Information
In plants, source tissues are those that produce more photosynthates (sugars) than they need, while sink tissues are those that consume more photosynthates than they produce. The phloem is responsible for transporting these sugars between sources and sinks.
Tips
A common mistake is to only consider leaves as sources and forget that stems can also be sources during active photosynthesis. Also, remember that roots are always sinks as they cannot photosynthesize.
Sources
- Sugar Transport in Plants: Phloem | Organismal Biology - organismalbio.biosci.gatech.edu
- Phloem Translocation - OER Commons - oercommons.org
- Photosynthate - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
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