Xylem and phloem tissues are always positioned adjacent to

Last updated: 5/15/2023

Xylem and phloem tissues are always positioned adjacent to one another within the body of a plant This positioning is completely accidental so water from the sieve elements can be used to dilute the solid sugars inside the tracheary elements creating a slushy solution that can move easily and rapidly though the tracheary elements because the relatively pure water in tracheary elements is used to help set up a pressure gradient in the nearby sieve elements that pushes nutrients through the sieve elements for damage control in case an air bubble forms in the tracheary stream The companion cell of the nearby sieve element directs the repair of the air bubble obstruction