SIEVE TUBE Meaning and
Definition
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A sieve tube refers to a specialized type of elongated plant cell found in the phloem tissue, which is responsible for the transport of organic substances, particularly sugars, throughout the plant. It is the main component of the phloem sieve element and plays a crucial role in the process known as translocation.
Sieve tubes are characterized by their elongated shape, with tapered ends and thin cell walls that are permeable to fluids. They are arranged in long strands called sieve tubes, forming a network that spans from the leaves to the roots of the plant. These tubes are connected end-to-end, allowing for the efficient transportation of nutrients and sugars.
The translocation process occurs as a result of pressure differences established between source and sink tissues. The source tissue, typically the leaves where photosynthesis takes place, produces the sugars that will be transported. These sugars are loaded into the sieve tubes, which then create a high concentration of sugars, leading to a pressure gradient.
The sieve tube elements have perforated cell walls known as sieve plates. These plates contain numerous sieve pores that allow for the passage of fluid, but are too small to permit larger particles such as proteins or starch molecules to pass through. Companion cells, located adjacent to sieve tube elements, provide metabolic support and assist in maintaining the sieve tubes' function.
In summary, sieve tubes are elongated plant cells found in the phloem tissue, responsible for transporting sugars and other organic substances throughout the plant. They are connected end-to-end, forming sieve tubes, and play a vital role in the translocation process, aiding in the distribution of nutrients to different parts of the plant.
Common Misspellings for SIEVE TUBE
- aieve tube
- zieve tube
- xieve tube
- dieve tube
- eieve tube
- wieve tube
- sueve tube
- sjeve tube
- skeve tube
- soeve tube
- s9eve tube
- s8eve tube
- siwve tube
- sisve tube
- sidve tube
- sirve tube
- si4ve tube
- si3ve tube
- siece tube
Etymology of SIEVE TUBE
The word "sieve" can be traced back to the Old English word "sife", which meant "sieve" or "strainer". This word can be traced further back to the Proto-Germanic word "sibjō" and the Old Norse word "sifi", both meaning "sieve" as well.
The word "tube" has its origin in Latin, derived from the word "tubus", meaning "pipe" or "tube".
When combined, "sieve tube" refers to a type of tissue in plants that is involved in transporting sugars and other organic compounds within the plant. The term "sieve" is used because these tubes contain sieve elements, which are elongated cells with perforated ends that create a sieve-like structure. The term "tube", on the other hand, refers to the elongated shape of these cells, which form long tubes for transporting sap.
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