Xylem and Phloem - Part 3 - Translocation - Transport in Plants

Sugars move up and down the plant in the phloem. The phloem uses active transport to transport the food nutrients like glucose and amino acids around the plant. Glucose is made in the leaves by photosynthesis. Glucose is converted into sucrose in the leaves, which then enters the phloem vessels, as do amino acids. They then need to be transported around the plant to every single cell. The areas of the plant where sucrose is made are called the sources, and where they are delivered are called sinks. The phloem uses active transport because the sucrose moves against its concentration gradient from a lower concentration, where it is made, to a higher concentration in the phloem cells.