Plants exert greater forces to draw water up through the xylem than is possible with a vacuum pump.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is due to the cohesion-tension theory, where water molecules stick together and create a continuous column of water in the xylem tubes. As the water evaporates from the leaves, it creates tension that pulls the water up through the xylem, which requires more force than a vacuum pump is capable of exerting.

Plants Exert Greater Forces to Draw Water Up Through the Xylem