In the plant body, through which specialised tissue system are water and dissolved mineral salts transported from the roots to the aerial parts?

Introduction / Context:
Transport of water and minerals in plants is a core topic in plant physiology. Roots absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil, and these must be carried upward to stems, leaves, and other parts. Plants achieve this through specialised vascular tissues. This question asks you to identify which tissue system is responsible for transporting water and mineral salts from roots to aerial parts of the plant.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on water and dissolved mineral transport, not on transport of food like sugars.
• The options include phloem, collenchyma, parenchyma, and xylem.
• We assume standard definitions of plant tissues as taught in botany.
• We also assume a typical vascular plant with both xylem and phloem present.

Concept / Approach:
Plants have two main vascular tissues: xylem and phloem. Xylem conducts water and dissolved mineral salts upwards from the roots to stems and leaves, mainly through vessels and tracheids. Phloem transports organic food material, such as sucrose, from leaves to other parts of the plant. Collenchyma and parenchyma are supporting and ground tissues that provide strength and storage but are not specialised long distance conducting tissues. Because the question specifically mentions water and minerals, xylem is the correct tissue system.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that roots absorb water and mineral ions from the soil. Step 2: Recognise that these substances must be transported upwards through the stem to reach leaves where photosynthesis occurs. Step 3: Xylem tissue, composed of vessels, tracheids, fibres, and xylem parenchyma, is adapted to conduct water and minerals in one main upward direction. Step 4: Phloem is responsible for distributing food produced in leaves to other parts of the plant and therefore is not the main water and mineral conducting tissue. Step 5: Collenchyma and parenchyma mainly provide support and storage and do not function as long distance water conduits. Thus, xylem is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Diagrams of plant stems in textbooks clearly show a ring of vascular bundles containing xylem and phloem. Xylem vessels are usually shown closer to the centre and are labelled as water and mineral conducting elements. Experimental demonstrations, such as placing a plant stem in coloured water, also show the dye moving through xylem. Phloem is discussed in separate sections under translocation of food. These consistent descriptions confirm that xylem, not phloem or ground tissues, is responsible for transporting water and minerals.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Phloem or bast fibres are wrong in this context because phloem transports organic food from leaves to other parts, not water and minerals from roots. Collenchyma supporting tissue provides mechanical support in young stems and petioles but does not specialise in long distance conduction. Parenchyma general ground tissue fills spaces and can store food or water but is not the primary conductor of water and minerals. None of these alternatives match the specific transport role that xylem plays.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse xylem and phloem, remembering that both are part of vascular bundles but forgetting their distinct roles. Some students also mix up the term bast, which is related to phloem, and assume it has something to do with water transport. To avoid these errors, remember the simple rule: xylem lifts water and minerals upward, and phloem distributes manufactured food. Associating the letter X in xylem with upward arrows in your mind can help reinforce its role in water conduction.

Final Answer:
The correct option is Xylem conducting vessels and tracheids, because xylem is the specialised tissue that transports water and dissolved mineral salts from roots to the aerial parts of the plant.