Question

Minerals absorbed by the roots travel up the xylem. How do they reach the parts where they are needed most ? Do all the parts of the plant get the same amount of the minerals ?

Answer 1

The minerals absobed are transported up the stem, to all parts of plant through the transpiration stream. The chief sinks for the mineral elements are the growing region of the plant, such as the spical and lateral meristems, young leaves, developing flowers, fruits, seeds and the storage organs.
Unloading of the mineral ions occurs via fine ending through diffusion and active uptake by the cells. In plants, xylem are involved in transport of inorganic nutrients where phloem transport only organic materials.
Mineral ions are frequently remobilised from older parts of plant like leaves to the younger regions. elements most readily mobilisal are phosphrous, sulphur, nitrogen, potassium, and some elements that forms the structurel component are not remobilised e.g., calcium.