If the xylem of a plant is mechanically blocked, which of the following functions of the plant will be affected?

The xylem is a specialized vascular tissue in plants primarily responsible for the upward transport of water and dissolved minerals (solutes) from the roots to the leaves [3]. While water is the primary medium, it carries essential inorganic nutrients and minerals obtained from the soil, which are often referred to as solutes in the context of plant physiology [3]. If the xylem is mechanically blocked, the physical pathway for both water and these dissolved minerals is obstructed, leading to a failure in their delivery to the rest of the plant [4]. In contrast, the phloem is responsible for the translocation of organic solutes like sucrose (food), and gas exchange occurs primarily through leaf tissues and stomata rather than the vascular system [3]. Therefore, blocking the xylem specifically halts the transport of water and its associated solutes.

Sources

1. [2] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > 5.4.2 Transportation in Plants > p. 94
2. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > What you have learnt > p. 99
3. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylem