If xylem vessels of a plant are plugged:

A. The leaves will turn yellow

B. No food will be made

C. The plant will wilt (shrivel)

D. The plant will continue to grow

Xylem transports water unidirectionally, from the roots to the tips of the plant. If the xylem vessels become blocked or plugged, water supply to nearby cells is disrupted, reducing turgor pressure. When turgor pressure drops to zero in non-lignified plant cells, the cells lose rigidity, leading to wilting.

Wilting also helps reduce water loss by causing leaves to shrivel, thereby decreasing their exposed surface area for transpiration. Since xylem is crucial for water transport, its blockage results in stunted growth and eventual wilting of the plant.

• Option A: Leaves turning yellow occurs due to moisture stress (overwatering or underwatering), not directly due to blocked xylem. Hence, this is incorrect.
• Option B: “No food will be made” is also incorrect because phloem, not xylem, is responsible for transporting food and nutrients. Phloem functions bidirectionally.
• Option D: “The plant will continue to grow” is incorrect too, since blockage of any vital transport system like xylem will definitely affect plant growth and function.

So, the correct answer is option C