Question

What is the difference between heartwood and sapwood of a stem?

A. Heartwood transports water, sapwood transports food

B. Heartwood consists of all dead cells, sapwood consists of all living cells

C. Heartwood has dead cells only, sapwood has both dead and live cells

D. Heartwood is derived from a lateral meristem, sapwood is derived from an apical meristem

Answer 1

The stem of trees can be divided in two parts-

1)- heartwood- heartwood, also known as duramen is the inner portion of wood in which xylum has collapsed and are not able to transport water. It is very hard and cells of the heartwood are completely dead due to disposition of tannins, lignins and other aromatic compounds.  It generally appears dark in color.

2)- softwood- as it's its name suggest, it is a soft, newly formed layer present between the heartwood and the bark of the trees. Sapwood comprise of living dividing cells which have proper vascular bundles for transport. Sapwood is generally light in color.

Hence the option B is correct answer. Heartwood is composed of dead cells while softwood is composed of all living cells.