Companion cells are closely accociated with
Or
Transport of food material in higher plants takes place through

Options

A. Vessel elements
B. Trichomes
C. Guard cells
D. Sieve elements

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Identify the Role of Companion Cells:**
- Companion cells are specialized cells in the phloem of flowering plants. They are closely associated with sieve tube elements (sieve tubes), which are responsible for the transport of food.

2. **Understand the Function of Phloem:**
- The phloem is a type of vascular tissue in plants that transports organic nutrients, particularly the sugars produced by photosynthesis, from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

3. **Components of Phloem:**
- The main components of phloem include:
- Sieve tubes (or sieve elements)
- Companion cells
- Phloem fibers
- Phloem parenchyma

4. **Relationship Between Sieve Tubes and Companion Cells:**
- Sieve tubes are the primary conduits for transporting food. They lack nuclei, which means they rely on companion cells for metabolic support. Companion cells contain nuclei and help regulate the function of sieve tubes.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Since companion cells are directly associated with sieve tube elements and the transport of food material in higher plants occurs through these sieve tubes, the correct answer to the question is:
- **Sieve elements (or sieve tubes).**

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