What is the difference between the xylem and phloem?

The xylem and phloem are both tissues for the transportation of substances, required for normal functioning by plants. They differ in what substances they transport and how these are transported, however. The xylem transports water and minerals that are required for photosynthesis from the roots upwards to the leave via the physical process of transpiration. While the phloem transports glucose (a food substance) made during photosynthesis in the leaves to other cells where it is required for growth, reproduction, or storage. Therefore the phloem transports both up and down the plant via the active process of translocation which requires energy. Because of the different substances being transported in different ways, the cells that make up the xylem and the phloem are also adapted differently, which we can discuss further.One way of remembering what is transported by each tissue is that the xylem begins with X which follows W in the alphabet, therefore the xylem transports water. While the phloem begins with Ph which sounds like F and so can be associated with the transport of food.