Prepare for NEET Biology Transport in Plants with MCQs & PYQs on NEET.GUIDE. Access free practice, previous year questions, and expert guidance to understand xylem, phloem, and movement of water.
A researcher is studying long-distance transport in a plant. They introduce a radioactive tracer into the phloem sap of a source leaf. Which of the following would LEAST likely be observed after a period of time?
Movement of the tracer towards a developing fruit
Presence of the tracer in the root tips
Detection of the tracer in a sink leaf
Significant accumulation of the tracer in mature xylem vessels of the source leaf
Which of the following manipulations would MOST directly inhibit the loading of sucrose into the sieve tube elements at the source?
Decreasing the hydrostatic pressure in the sieve tube elements
Blocking plasmodesmata between companion cells and sieve tube elements
Increasing the concentration of sucrose in the sink
Inhibition of apoplastic proton pumps in companion cells
The pressure-flow hypothesis explains the translocation of sugars in the phloem. Which of the following statements regarding this hypothesis is INCORRECT?
Active loading of sugars at the source creates a high solute concentration in the sieve tubes.
Water moves from the xylem to the phloem at the source, increasing turgor pressure.
Sugars are unloaded at the sink, lowering the solute concentration and water potential.
Water moves from the sink to the source via the phloem, driven by a pressure gradient.
Girdling experiments, where the bark of a tree is removed in a ring around the trunk, demonstrate the importance of phloem for translocation. Which observation is NOT expected after girdling?
Accumulation of sugars above the girdle.
Swelling of the bark above the girdle.
Eventual death of the roots due to lack of nutrients.
Increased sugar concentration above the girdle and decreased sugar concentration below the girdle, with no effect on xylem function.
A plant is exposed to for a short period. After 5 minutes, the radioactive carbon is detected in the phloem sieve tubes near the source. After 20 minutes, it's found further down the stem in the phloem. Which observation MOST directly contradicts the mass flow hypothesis?
Sucrose moves bidirectionally in the phloem, sometimes against the concentration gradient.
ATP is required for active loading of sucrose into the sieve tubes.
The concentration of sucrose is higher in the source than in the sink.
Water moves from xylem to phloem at the source and from phloem to xylem at the sink.
If the mass flow hypothesis were entirely accurate, which scenario would be LEAST likely to occur in a plant?
Movement of sucrose from a leaf to a developing fruit.
Higher turgor pressure in phloem sieve tubes near a photosynthesizing leaf compared to those near a root tip.
Simultaneous bidirectional transport of different organic molecules within the same sieve tube element.
Changes in phloem sap composition based on the source and sink tissues involved.
Researchers manipulate a plant's phloem by selectively blocking plasmodesmata connecting companion cells to sieve tube elements near a leaf. Which outcome would provide the STRONGEST evidence AGAINST the mass flow hypothesis?
Accumulation of sucrose in the leaf and reduced transport to the roots.
Increased turgor pressure in the sieve tubes near the leaf.
Uninterrupted flow of sucrose from the leaf to the roots.
Decreased water potential in the sieve tubes near the leaf.
Which experimental observation would be MOST difficult to reconcile with the mass flow hypothesis?
A higher concentration of sucrose in source tissues compared to sink tissues.
A positive correlation between the rate of transpiration and the rate of translocation.
Bidirectional movement of different solutes within the same sieve tube element.
The presence of a pressure gradient between source and sink tissues in the phloem.
A researcher observes that applying a metabolic inhibitor to the sink tissues of a plant reduces the rate of translocation. How does this observation relate to the mass flow hypothesis?
It refutes the hypothesis, as metabolic energy should not be required for passive flow.
It supports the hypothesis, as reduced sink activity would decrease the pressure gradient driving flow.
It is irrelevant to the hypothesis, as the inhibitor's effect is localized to the sink.
It partially supports the hypothesis, suggesting an additional active component to the predominantly passive flow.
Imagine a hypothetical plant where sucrose transporters in companion cells are genetically modified to actively transport sucrose out of sieve tubes near the source. Assuming all other aspects of phloem structure and function remain the same, what would be the MOST likely effect on translocation according to the mass flow hypothesis?
Translocation would proceed normally, as the pressure gradient is independent of companion cell activity.
Translocation would be enhanced, as sucrose would be actively removed from the sieve tubes, creating a stronger sink.
Translocation would be significantly reduced or stopped, as the pressure gradient would be reversed or eliminated.
The direction of translocation would be reversed, with flow occurring from sink to source.
