Which statement best describes immobile nutrients?

• A. They move from old tissues to new ones
• B. They are transported in the phloem only
• C. They stay in the tissues where they are placed
• D. They are not required by plants

Answer: (C)

Immobilized nutrients stay in the tissues where absorbed and are not readily moved to new growth. Because they aren’t translocated through the phloem, these minerals stay put where they’re needed for local structures or functions, such as incorporation into cell walls or enzymes at the site of uptake. That makes the description of remaining in the tissues where they’re placed the best fit for immobile nutrients.

The other ideas describe mobility: nutrients that move from older tissues to newer growth via redistribution, or the notion that they are transported exclusively in the phloem, which isn’t true for immobile nutrients. And nutrients are essential for plants, so saying they aren’t required isn’t correct.