Which process involves the absorption and movement of nutrients within a plant?

Translocation is the process by which nutrients are absorbed by the roots of a plant and then moved throughout the plant via the vascular system, specifically through the xylem and phloem tissues. This movement is essential for distributing essential nutrients, water, and photosynthates (sugars produced during photosynthesis) to various parts of the plant, ensuring proper growth and development.

Uptake refers to the initial absorption of nutrients and water from the soil into the roots, but it does not encompass the movement of those nutrients through the plant. Transpiration is primarily related to the process of water movement and loss through evaporation from plant surfaces, particularly leaves, and is not directly about nutrient movement. Phytoremediation involves using plants to clean up soil, air, or water contaminated with hazardous contaminants, which is a different process unrelated to the absorption and movement of nutrients within a plant. Hence, translocation accurately describes both the process of absorption and the subsequent distribution of those nutrients within the plant.