AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The xylem and phloem are two conducting tissues present in plants. Xylem conducts minerals and water only in the upward direction i.e. from the roots towards the stem. The phloem transports food material from leaves to other parts of the plant body. It can conduct food in both directions.

Detailed explanation-2: -The phloem carries food downward from the leaves to the roots. Xylem cells constitute the major part of a mature woody stem or root. They are stacked end to end in the center of the plant, forming a vertical column that conducts water and minerals absorbed by the roots upward through the stem to the leaves.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hence, the movement of food through the phloem is bi-directional i.e. both in upward and downward directions. The process of food transportation via the phloem requires ATP. Various elements of the phloem fibers, phloem parenchyma, and companion cells all contribute to the food translocation process.