1.

Explain how phloem loading in the leaves occur against concentration gradient
2. Discuss mass flow as a possible mechanism of translocation make mention of;
 experimental evidence of and against this hypothesis ,
 use diagram to show both flows,
 make mention of ringing experiment connected to aphid and how it collects phloem sap

define translocation

 Mesophyll cells in the leaves make sucrose from the products of photosynthesis. This sucrose is
transported in the phloem and then to other parts of the plant. The leaves are called the sources
and the other parts such as the roots are referred to as sinks. A source is an organ that produces
more sugars than it requires and is the point at which sucrose is loaded into the phloem. A sink
is an organ that consumes sugar for its own growth and storage and therefore takes sucrose out
of the phloem.
 Sucrose is first loaded into companion cells by active transport and the passed from the
companion cells to the sieve tubes through the plasmodesmata that connect them. As this is
done the water potential in the cell sap of the sieve tubes become more negative (decrease);
the sieve tubes has a lower water potential than surrounding cells.
 Water from the xylem vessels enter the phloem tubes since they are close by. This is done by
osmosis as a result of the difference in water potentials. Water moves from a higher water
potential to a lower one.
 The absorption of this water builds up a high hydrostatic pressure in the sieve tubes.
 The pressure at the source is higher than the pressure in the sink at the other parts of the sieve
tube. This may be upwards towards new leaves or downwards towards roots. At the sink,
sucrose diffuses out of the sieve tubes down its concentration gradient into cells that are using
it.
 The movement of sugars into the sink creates a water potential gradient so water, so water
moves out of the sieve tubes into sink tissues and also water moves back into the xylem. This
decreases the hydrostatic pressure and maintains the pressure gradient from source to sink.
 It is this pressure gradient that causes a mass movement of the phloem sap in plants.

*pic

Evidence supporting the mass flow theory:

 There is a flow of solution from phloem when it is cut or punctured by the stylet of an
aphid
 There is evidence of concentration gradients of sucrose and other minerals, with high
concentrations in leaves and lower concentrations in roots.

An experiment used to test this theory is as follows