Describe how vascular tissue of gymnosperms enable them to survive on land?

Question: Describe how vascular tissue of gymnosperms enable them to survive on land?

Vascular tissue is a specialized type of tissue that transports water and nutrients throughout the plant body. Gymnosperms are a group of plants that produce seeds without flowers or fruits. They include conifers, cycads, ginkgoes and gnetophytes. Vascular tissue of gymnosperms enables them to survive on land by providing structural support, preventing water loss and facilitating gas exchange. 

Structural support: Vascular tissue of gymnosperms consists of two types of cells: tracheids and vessel elements. Tracheids are long, thin and tapered cells that form the xylem, which carries water and minerals from the roots to the leaves. Vessel elements are shorter, wider and more cylindrical cells that form the phloem, which transports sugars and other organic molecules from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Together, these cells form a rigid network that helps the plant stand upright and resist bending or breaking.

Preventing water loss: Vascular tissue of gymnosperms also helps to conserve water by reducing evaporation and transpiration. Evaporation is the loss of water from the surface of the plant, while transpiration is the loss of water from the stomata, which are small pores on the leaf surface that allow gas exchange. Vascular tissue of gymnosperms reduces evaporation by having a thick cuticle, which is a waxy layer that covers the epidermis, or outer layer of cells. Vascular tissue of gymnosperms reduces transpiration by having fewer stomata than other plants, and by closing them during dry periods.

Facilitating gas exchange: Vascular tissue of gymnosperms also enables them to survive on land by allowing them to exchange gases with the atmosphere. Gas exchange is essential for photosynthesis, which is the process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Vascular tissue of gymnosperms facilitates gas exchange by having stomata on their leaves, as well as on their stems and roots in some cases. Stomata open and close in response to environmental factors such as light, temperature and humidity, allowing the plant to regulate its intake of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen.

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