Root system

1. Anchoring the plant firmly to a substrate (soil) 2. Absorbing water and minerals 3. production of hormones

Three types of root system

1. Tap root from radicle Anchorage In dicot and gymnosperm Secondary growth

2. Fibrous

After the death of radicle

Delicate and hair-like Absorption

No prominent enlarged primary root

In monocot

3. Adventitious do not arise from pre-existing roots

a. brace root- arise from main trunk stem b. prop root arise from the lateral branches of the main stem.

Brace roots of corn which arise from the main trunk or stem of Zea mays

Germinating seed showing the emergence of primary root from the radicle.

structure of roots
1. Taproot single prominent root
2. Lateral or branch rootssmaller and arise from the taproot 3. Root hairs arise from epidermis, single celled extension which increase absorptive area, no line of demarcation in the epidermal cells.

4. Root tip- the growing portion protected by root cap.

L-section of root shows 3 zones

Zone of maturation

Zone of elongation

Zone of division/apical meristem

ROOT TIP IS PROTECTED BY A ROOT CAP

procambium Ground meristem protoderm

peripheral

columella

Root cap

Slime or mucigel secreted by the dictyosomes of the root cap which helps to lubricate the passage of root through the soil.

Quiescent center is the mitotically inactive region of the root apical meristem, act as reserve of healthy cells, resistant to toxic substances and radiations.
The three zones of root apical meristem: 1. protoderm

2. ground meristem

Root cap

3. procambium

Internal anatomy of young dicot root shows three general sections:

1. Dermal region epidermis with root hairs 2. Cortex outer collenchyma

middle parenchyma inner endodermis

3. Stele or vascular cyclinder consists of the following: 1. pericycle outermost layer

2. primary xylem

Cross section of Ranunculus root (Buttercup)

3. primary phloem

4. vascular cambium

C
D E

Cross section of young dicot root Beside is the enlarged view of Vascular cylinder or stele region. b.Pericycle

c.Primary phloem
d. Vascular cambium e. Primary xylem

Variations in the number of xylem strands in roots

Triarch

tetrarch

pentarch

polyarch

Three xylem poles

eudicot Protostele

four xylem poles

eudicot protostele

five xylem poles

eudicot protostele

many xylem poles

monocot siphonostele

Endodermis- controls the passage of minerals across the vascular tissues

Consist of thick-walled cells (encrusted with suberin and lignin) and passage cells (thin-walled)

Casparian strips are bands

of lignin and suberin on the radial walls (top, bottom and side walls) causing the cell walls to be water proof.

Diffusion paths in roots

Apoplastic Water and mineral diffuses only through walls in intercellular spaces Symplastic The material has passed through a plasma membrane and enters the protoplasm

Internal anatomy of monocot root

Internalanatomy of monocot root shows 3 regions: 1. Dermal region epidermis

2. Cortex which shows:

a. outer zone of collenchyma

b. middle zone of parenchyma

c. innermost endodermid 3. Vascular Cylinder a. pericycle

Siphonostele
a band of vascular tissues surrounding a parenchymatous pith.

b. xylem

c. phloem
d. pith parenchyma

Epidermis Outer collenchyma Middle parenchyma

Endodermis

Pith Pericycle Primary xylem Primary phloem

Monocot root

pith

pith

Vascular cylinder of monocot root

siphonostele strands of xylem and phloem surrounding a parenchymatous pith

Origin and Development of Lateral roots

Lateral root

Lateral root is iniatiated by cell divisions in the pericycle. As it pushes outward, it destroys the cells of the cortex and epidermis that lie in its path, ultimately destroying endodermis.

Expaded epidermis And cortex of parental root Vascular tissues

Old dicot root shows two distinct regions:

1. Region of secondar vascular tissues which include the a. secondary phloem b. vascular cambium

c. secondary xylem

2. Region of periderm layers:

a. phellem or cork b. phellogen or cork cambium

c. phelloderm or cork parenchyma

Old dicot root

Brace roots in corn plant

for additional support

and absorption

Water retention

3. velamen in aerial roots of orchids

4. chlorophyllous roots

photosynthesis

Movement - Contractile roots of bulbs like onions, gladiolus, garlic

Parasitic (haustorial roots) for absorption

Buttresses- expanded roots for great support

Pneumatophores- breathing roots of mangove for aeration

enlarged fleshy tap root- carrots, ube,

tugue, radish, turnips,

Root nodules- nitrogen fixation

Mycorrhizae- association between a soil fungus and roots

Other types and root modifications

8. Protection 8. spiny roots of tugue

Other types and root modifications

5. root nodules associations between nitrogen fixing bacteria and roots of legumes such as makahiya.
6. Parasitism 6. haustorial roots of parasitic flowering plants like mistle toe