Why do plants use cotransporters instead of ion channels to transfer anions into cells?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cotransporters use the energy of an existing gradient (such as a proton gradient or a membrane potential gradient) to transport ions against their own concentration gradient. Ion channels, on the other hand, simply allow ions to passively diffuse down their concentration gradient. Anions are negatively charged and tend to be repelled by the negative charge of the cell membrane, so it requires energy to transport them against this electrostatic gradient. Cotransporters are able to use the energy of the electrochemical gradient to fuel this process, while ion channels cannot.

Why Do Plants Use Cotransporters Instead of Ion Channels to Transfer