Which vascular tissue carries food, such as sugars, through the plant?

• A. Phloem
• B. Xylem
• C. Cambium
• D. Pith

Answer: (A)

Sugars produced by photosynthesis in the leaves move through the phloem, the vascular tissue responsible for transporting organic nutrients to other parts of the plant. This process, translocation, distributes sugars to growing tissues and storage organs, not just upward like water in the xylem. Phloem is made of living sieve tube elements aided by companion cells, whereas xylem is mainly water-conducting and consists of dead vessels at maturity. Sugar is loaded into sieve tubes at sources, drawing in water and creating a pressure that pushes sap toward sinks where sugars are unloaded and used or stored. Because of this transport role, phloem carries food through the plant, while cambium is a growth tissue and pith is central storage tissue.