Phloem tissues are mostly responsible for transport of

Phloem tissues are mostly responsible for transport of

water
oxygen
minerals
food
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
The correct answer is D) food.
Plant vascular tissues consist of xylem and phloem. Xylem is primarily responsible for the transport of water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. Phloem is primarily responsible for the transport of organic nutrients, mainly sugars (food) produced during photosynthesis in the leaves, to other parts of the plant where they are needed for growth or storage.
The transport of food in the phloem is called translocation and can occur in multiple directions (upwards, downwards, or sideways) depending on the source (where food is produced) and sink (where food is needed) areas. Oxygen is primarily exchanged through stomata on the leaves and lenticels on stems, not transported systemically through vascular tissue in this manner.