A plant tissue that carries water and mineral salt is

1. Analyze the question The question asks which plant tissue carries (conducts) water and mineral salts. This is about transport tissues in plants.

2. Explain the concept Vascular plants have two main conducting tissues:

• Xylem: carries water and dissolved mineral salts upward from the roots to the stem and leaves. It is made of vessels and tracheids, which are dead, hollow, lignified cells that also give support.
• Phloem: carries manufactured food (sucrose and amino acids) from the leaves to other parts of the plant. This is called translocation. It is made of sieve tubes and companion cells.

3. Go through the options

• A. Xylem: conducts water and mineral salts. ✔
• B. Cortex: a layer of parenchyma tissue between the epidermis and the vascular tissues. It stores food and gives support, but it is not the main conducting tissue.
• C. Phloem: carries food, not water and minerals.
• D. Cambium: a meristematic tissue whose cells divide to produce new xylem and phloem, which makes the stem or root grow wider. It does not conduct anything.

4. Answer The correct option is A. Xylem.

5. Exam tip Remember: Xylem = X-tra water going up, and Phloem = Produced food (from photosynthesis). Also, xylem is dead and hollow, while phloem is living.