What specialized vascular tissue is responsible for transporting water and dissolved minerals upward from the roots to the rest of the plant?

• A. Xylem
• B. Phloem
• C. Cambium
• D. Parenchyma

Answer: (A)

Water and dissolved minerals are moved upward through xylem, the vascular tissue specialized for this task. Xylem is made of hollow, lignified cells such as vessel elements and tracheids that are dead at maturity, forming continuous tubes for efficient water transport. The movement is driven mainly upward by transpiration in the leaves, creating a cohesive pull along the water column, with help from root pressure and capillary action. The rigid walls provide structural support as well. In contrast, phloem carries sugars and other nutrients in many directions, not focused on upward water transport. Cambium is a growth tissue that produces xylem and phloem, and parenchyma serves as storage and metabolic tissue rather than a conduit for long-distance water movement.