Download - Roots
Plant Roots Structure and Function
Author: Mike DanaRevised by: Geonyzl Alviola
Reference:http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/courses/HORT101Spring/Roots/index.htm
Objectives of today’s lecture:
• Learn about the functions of the root system and its importance to plant growth and development
• Learn the structures that allow the root to perform these functions
• Learn some of the modifications that occur in roots
Functions of the Root
• anchorage to the soil (or other substrate)
• absorption of water
• acquisition of mineral nutrients
• a tissue for energy (food) storage
• for propagation and dispersal of some species
Functions of the Root
Root morphology is highly variable
• most dicotyledonous plants (those with 2 seed leaves) have a prominent primary root
• monocots (with one cotyledon or seed leaf) typically have a more diffuse fibrous root system
-Roots originated from meristems- Apical meristem produces the cap - Cell divisions at the apical meristem cause the root to lengthen- Farther up, cells differentiate and mature
- developed from the epidermal cells away from the root tip
- Increasing the surface area available for water and mineral absorption
Root hairs
Root hairs
• Root hairs contribute the largest fraction of root surface area
• In the winter rye example given earlier, more than 4,000 sq. ft. of the 6,500 sq. ft. of root surface area comes from root hairs
• Epidermis functions in the uptake of water and minerals
• Large surface area facilitates uptake
Tissues of the root
EpidermisCortexEndodermis
PericycleVascularSystem
Phloem
Cambium
Xylem
Root tissues can be regarded as a series of concentric rings of different tissues
Epidermis
• Single layer of cells on the exterior of the root
• NOT covered with a cuticle
• root is designed for water uptake
• cuticle is a barrier to water
Epidermis
Cortex
Endodermis
Pericycle
VascularSystem
Phloem
Cambium
Xylem
• Comprised of large undifferentiated cells
• Functions in the storage of food reserves (proteins and starches) in root tissues
Cortex
Epidermis
Cortex
Endodermis
Pericycle
VascularSystem
Phloem
Cambium
Xylem
Endodermis
• Single layer of cells outside vascular system
• Spaces between the cells are covered with a waxy layer, called suberin• Similar to grout between
ceramic tiles, and serves a similar function
Epidermis
Cortex
Endodermis
Pericycle
VascularSystem
Phloem
Cambium
Xylem
Endodermis
• Blocks passage of water and dissolved nutrients into the vascular system
• Water, nutrients and other solutes must enter a cell, cannot go round the endodermis
• Endodermis functions to regulate the uptake of water and nutrients into the plant
Pericycle
• A thin layer of undifferentiated cells
• A meristem tissue
• The source of new lateral, or secondary, roots
• Surrounds the vascular bundles
pericycle
pericycle
phloem
xylem
root hair
endodermis
epidermis
cortex
Vascular tissue
• The transport system
• Phloem
• living cells comprised of seive tube elements and companion cells
• Cambium
• a meristematic tissue supplying cells that will develop into vascular structures
Vascular tissue
• Xylem
• dead cells with thickened cell walls, typically larger than phloem cells
• functions in the transport of water and mineral nutrients
A long look at the root
• A longitudinal section through the root (from bottom to top) shows these various tissues and how they develop.
A long look at the root
• Elongation zone
• Where cells elongate and differentiate
• Pushes the root tip through the soil
• Maturation zone
• Cells develop their final form
• Root hairs form, xylem cells thicken and die
A long look at the root
• Root cap
• Cells are sloughed off
• Protects the apical meristem
• Apical meristem
• Source of cells for the root
root apical meristem
root cap
Organ Tissue Cell Type
Root
Epidermis
VascularSystem
Epidermal
Root hairs
Phloem
Cambium
Xylem
Cortex Parenchyma
Endodermis
Pericycle
CasparianStrip
Parenchyma
Root Development
• Radicle – the first root to develop in a vascular plant
• Primary root – the matured root developed from the radicle
• Lateral roots – roots arised from other roots.
• Adventitious roots – root arise from nonroot organ
radicle
Primary root Adventitious root
Root modifications
• The organ that is consumed in many vegetable crops, such as carrot and sweet potato, is a modified root that serves as a storage tissue
• Other modifications for support
Modifications of the root
• Taproot - if the primary root is dominant
• Fibrous root system – if the primary root withers and more are adventitous roots.
Types of Roots
• Storage roots
– mostly biennial plants
- Tap root become thicken
- Stores great amount of starch
• Aerial roots
- These are adventitious roots that don’t enter the soil
- Absorb water and minerals from the air
- Mostly epiphytic plants have this type of roots
Contractile roots
- roots that actually contract vertically
- To pull the stock further into the soil.
- Contractile roots are usually broad, fleshy, vertical, tapering, wrinkled looking and very distinct of the rather cylindrical fine absorbent roots and are capable of incredible effort.
Haworthia emelyae v. comptoniana
Haustoria
• roots of a parasitic plant
• It penetrate the tissue of a host plant
Prop roots
• Grow from the base of the stem
• Serve as to support of the plant with weak stems
pneumatophores
• Roots that grow upwardly from soil to capture oxygen.
• Mostly found in marsh and swampy areas
Buttress roots
• large roots on all sides of a tall or shallowly rooted tree.
• Provide a mechanical support to a tree
The End