Understanding Translocation

 

What is Translocation?

Translocation is like a delivery service inside a plant. It moves sugary food (sucrose) and building blocks (amino acids) around through special pathways called phloem. Think of the phloem as the plant’s “food highway.”

 

Sources and Sinks

• Sources: Places in the plant where sugars or amino acids are made or released.
  (Example: A leaf that makes sugar is like a kitchen cooking up treats.)

• Sinks: Places in the plant where sugars or amino acids are needed or stored.
  (Example: A growing root is like a hungry stomach waiting to be fed.)

Remember: A source “sends out,” a sink “takes in.”

 

Changing Roles

Some parts of a plant can be a source at one time (when they release sugars) and a sink at another time (when they need sugars). For example, a leaf might be a source in summer, making lots of sugar. Later, when it’s storing or using that sugar, it might behave more like a sink.