Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Food produced in the leaves moves to other parts of a plant through which structure?

1. Xylem

2. Veins

3. Phloem

4. Arteries

The correct answer is: Phloem

The structure responsible for transporting food produced in the leaves to other parts of a plant is the phloem. Phloem is a type of vascular tissue found in vascular plants that primarily serves the function of distributing the sugars and nutrients created during photosynthesis. These sugars are transported from the leaves, where photosynthesis occurs, to various parts of the plant, including the roots, fruits, and growing tissues, ensuring that all parts of the plant receive the energy needed for growth and development. The process of this transport is known as translocation, and it primarily moves substances in a direction that depends on the plant's needs, which can vary based on factors such as the season or growth stage. This differentiates phloem from other structures, like xylem, which is primarily responsible for transporting water and minerals from the roots to the leaves. Although veins, which are composed of both xylem and phloem, are visible structures within leaves and stems, it is specifically the phloem that plays a crucial role in transporting food throughout the plant. Additionally, arteries are not a structure found in plants; they are specific to the circulatory system of animals and do not apply to plant physiology.