MESOPHLOEM Meaning and
Definition
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Mesophloem is a term used in botany to refer to a specific type of vascular tissue found in plants. It is part of the complex system of conducting tissues that transports water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant. The term mesophloem is derived from the Greek words "meso," meaning middle, and "phloem," which refers to the portion of the vascular tissue responsible for conducting sugars.
Among the different types of phloem tissues, mesophloem is situated in the middle layer of the secondary phloem, located between the outermost layer called the protophloem and the innermost layer known as the metaphloem. It is primarily responsible for the transport of sugars such as glucose and sucrose, which are produced during the process of photosynthesis in the leaves.
Mesophloem consists of specialized cells called sieve elements, which are elongated, tube-like structures interconnected to form sieve tubes. These sieve tubes are responsible for the movement of organic compounds, particularly sugars, from sources (such as leaves) to sinks (such as growing fruits, roots, or storage organs). The movement of sugars through the mesophloem is facilitated by companion cells that provide metabolic support to the sieve elements.
Overall, mesophloem plays a crucial role in the efficient transportation of sugars throughout the plant, ensuring that energy is distributed to where it is needed for growth, development, and storage.
Common Misspellings for MESOPHLOEM
Etymology of MESOPHLOEM
The word "mesophloem" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "meso" meaning "middle" or "intermediate", and "phloem" referring to the specialized vascular tissue in plants responsible for the transportation of sugars, nutrients, and other molecules. Hence, "mesophloem" essentially translates to "middle phloem" or the region of phloem located between other types of phloem tissues.
