Question

Which of the following xylem elements stores food in the form of starch or fats and other substances like tannin?

Answer 1

Hint: Xylem is the vascular tissue responsible for the ascent of sap. Xylem tissue is made of four structural elements such as tracheid, vessels, xylem fibres, xylem parenchyma and rays. Each of these elements have their own individual functions and they work together to form the xylem.

Complete answer:
Xylem is a type of vascular tissue that is present in plants. It primarily transports water and nutrients from roots to other parts of the plant such as stems and leaves. Xylem also provides mechanical strength and support to the plants.

The xylem is further divided into four different kinds of elements, which are:
• Tracheids – They are dead, tube-like cells. They have thick walls and lack protoplasm. Their main function is to transport water and minerals.
• Vessels – They are found in angiosperms. They are cylindrical in shape and have a large central cavity. They are also dead and lack protoplasm. They are involved in water, mineral transportation and also provide mechanical strength.
• Xylem fibre – They are dead cells with a central lumen. Their main function is to transport water and provide mechanical support.
• Xylem parenchyma – They are the only living cells in xylem. They store starch and fat. They are also involved in transporting water over short distances.

Xylem parenchyma is the xylem element that stores food in the form of starch, fats, tannins and crystals.

Note: Xylem Parenchyma are made of two parenchyma cells – axial parenchyma and radial parenchyma.
• The cell of xylem parenchyma is thin and made of cellulose.
• They have a prominent nucleus and protoplasm, and they also have large vacuoles.
• Xylem parenchyma also helps to maintain xylem transport and capacity.
• These cells are also responsible for the restoration of vessels and tracheids.