How is food transported in plants?

Explanation

The transport of food (made by photosynthesis) in the plant leaves takes place through 'phloem tissue'. The phloem tissue consists of sieve tubes alongwith their companion cells. The mechanism of movement of food in phloem (or translocation) by utilising energy is described below : The sugar (food) made in leaves is loaded into the sieve tubes of phloem tissue by using energy from ATP. Water now enters into sieve tubes containing sugar by the process of osmosis due to which the pressure in the phloem tissue rises. This high pressure produced in the phloem tissue moves the food to all the parts of the plant having less pressure in their tissues. This allows the phloem to transport food according to the needs of the plant. The movement of food in phloem can be upwards or downwards depending on the requirements of the plant.