PLANT ORGAN: ROOTS It protects the tender apex of the root as it makes

its way through the soil.

WHAT ARE ROOTS? The cells of root cap secret mucilage which
Roots are the important underground part of all lubricates the passage of the goot through soil.
vascular plants. -Mucilage also helps in the absorption of
It is part of the plant axis that normally develops water and uptake of nutrient ions.
below the surface of the soil. As the root grows further down in the soil, root
They are the least obvious part of the plant since cap wears out, but it is constantly renewed.
they are mostly underground, but in structure and In aquatic plants like Pistia and water hyacinth
function, they are very complex. (Eichornia)(left) root cap is like a loose thimble,
called root pocket.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ROOTS
1. Develops from the radicle of the embryo REGION OF CELL DIVISION
present in the seed. Also called Region of Meristematic Cells
2. They are cylindrical, generally non-green Meristematic means rapid increasing or rapid
structures. growth.
3. They are not differentiated nodes and A few millimeters above the root cap is the region
internodes. of meristematic activity.
4. They do not produce dissimilar organs like The cells of this region are very small, thin-
leaves, buds. walled and with a dense protoplasm and divide
5. They are homogeneous because they produce actively.
similar organs such as secondary and tertiary In monocots, the root cap is formed by the
roots from the pericycle. independent group of cells known as Calyptrogen.
6. It bears lateral rootlets which are always THE APICAL MERISTEM CONSISTS OF:
endogenous in origin. Dermatogen - outermost layer whose cells
7. Generally, they are non-green and cannot mature into epiblema and root cap
synthesize food. Periblem - inner to dermatogen whose cells
8. The apex of the root is sub-terminal; because mature into cortex
its tip is protected by a thimble-like structure Plerome - the central region whose cells mature
called the root cap. into stele

REGION OF ELONGATION
ROOT STRUCTURE The cells proximal to this region undergo rapid
Historically, developing roots have been elongation and enlargement and are responsible
categorized into four zones of development. for the growth of the root in length. This region is
These are not strict zones, but rather regions of called the region of elongation.
cells that gradually develop into those of the next
region. The zones vary widely as far as extent and
levels of development. REGION OF MATURATION
REGIONS OF ROOT DEVELOPMENT The cells of the elongation zone gradually
Root cap differentiate and mature. Hence, this zone,
Region of cell division proximal to the region of elongation, is called the
Region of elongation region of maturation.
Region of maturation Matured cells differentiate into various tissues
like root hairs and permanent region.
ROOT CAP REGION From this region some of the epidermal cells form
The root is covered at the apex by a thimble like very fine and delicate, thread-like structures
structure called the root cap (Calyptra). called root hairs.
It is produced by a meristematic zone. This region is called the piliferous region.
 The root hairs are elongated, single celled tubular FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEM
structures that remain in contact with soil Consists of numerous fine roots similar in
particles. diameter.
The root hairs increase the surface area of It also originates from the seed radicle.
absorption. Root hairs are short-lived and are Monocot plants generally have a fibrous root
replaced every 10 to 15 days and absorb water system.
and minerals from the soil. Huge number of threadlike roots increases the
surface area for absorption of water and minerals,
FUNCTION OF THE ROOT but fibrous roots anchor the plant less securely.
Roots perform various functions that are Example: wheat, rice, corn, marigold, banana
necessary for the survival of the plants. They are ADVENTITIOUS ROOT SYSTEM
an integral or integrated system that helps the The roots which grow from any part of the plant
plant in: other than the radicle.
Anchoring - Roots are the reason plants remain They may develop from the base of the stems,
attached to the ground. They support the plant nodes, internodes, and in some cases, from leaves.
body, ensuring that it stands erect. It may be underground or aerial.
Absorption - Primary function of the roots is to These do not penetrate deep in the soil.
absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil. Example: orchids, banyan tree, mangrove,
This is crucial as it helps in the process of mistletoe plant
photosynthesis.
Storage - Plants prepare food and store in the SPECIALIZED ROOTS
form of starch in the leaves, shoots and roots. Most plants produce a fibrous root system, a
Prominent examples include carrots, radish, taproot system, or most commonly a combination
beetroot, etc. of both. However, some plants have roots with
Reproduction - Even though roots are not the modifications that allow specific functions in
reproductive part of plants, they are vegetative addition to the absorption of water and minerals
parts. In some plants, the roots are a means of in solution.
reproduction. 1. Food storage roots
Respiration - In swampy plants, many roots 2. Water storage roots
come out vertically above the ground. These are 3. Propagative roots
hollow roots, and their primary function is the 4. Pneumatophores
exchange of gases in the roots. 5. Support
Ecological function - They check soil erosion, -Buttress Roots
provide sustenance and habitat to various - Prop or Stilt Roots
organisms. - Brace Roots
- Clinging Roots
THREE MAJOR ROOT SYSTEMS ARE: 6. Contractile roots
TAP ROOT SYSTEM 7. Haustoria
It originates from the seed radicle and consists of 8. Mycorrhizae
one main root, generally growing straightforward, 9. Root nodules
with smaller lateral or branch roots. FOOD STORAGE ROOTS
It originates from the seed radicle. Enlarge roots with large quantities of starch and
Dicot plants generally have this type of root carbohydrates.
system. Examples: Potato, Ginger, Ube
Have a main central root that has branching into WATER STORAGE ROOTS
small, lateral roots (“carrot-like”) called root hairs Enlarged fleshy and succulent roots.
are attached. Plants that grow in particularly arid regions are
Example: ·beetroot, carrot, parsley, dandelion known for growing structures used to retain
water.
 The plant will use the stored water in times or Examples: corn, sugarcane,
seasons of low precipitation. CLINGING ROOTS
Examples: pumpkin family Aerial roots that cling to support.
PROPAGATIVE ROOTS They are entities dwelling on the surface of other
Propagative root structures are one way for a plants such as branches, tree trunks for space and
plant to produce more of itself. shelter only.
Adventitious buds are buds that appear in unusual Clinging Roots entered the crevices of some
places. Many plants will produce these buds along support and fix the plant.
the roots that grow near the surface of the ground. Examples: epiphytic orchids
The ‘new’ plant can be separated from the CONTRACTILE ROOTS
original plant and can grow independently. They are roots that pull the plant deeper into the
Examples: Fruit trees, banyan tree soil.
PNEUMATOPHORE ROOTS The roots are pulling the stem downward.
Pneumatophores are spongy roots that develop in The actual mechanism of contraction involves the
most plants that grow in water. thickening and constriction of parenchyma cells.
Swamps, marshes, and coastal areas are good This causes the components of xylem to spiral
places to find plants with pneumatophores. into a corkscrew shape.
These specialized roots account for the fact that Examples: lily bulbs, dandelion
water, even after having air bubbled through it, HAUSTORIAL ROOTS
has less than one-thirtieth of the amount of free Modified root of parasitic plants that penetrates
oxygen that is found in the air. into a host plant and functions to acquire
Examples: mangrove trees necessary nutrients from the host plant they
BUTTRESS ROOTS attached themselves to.
They are big roots that look like they arise from Examples: dodders, broomrapes, and pine drops
the base of the tree trunk. MYCORRHIZAE ROOTS
Tropical trees may have large buttress roots at the They are fungal roots found in many plants.
base of the trunk. These fungal associations are important for both
These roots add stability to the tree and give an the plant and for the fungal and are therefore
angular look to the lower visible portion of the considered to be mutualistic.
trunk. Examples: oak, beech, truffles
Examples: fig tree ROOT NODULES
PROP OR STILT ROOTS They are beneficial bacterial colonies that are
They are aerial roots arising from branches visible as small swellings in the root system.
The aerial roots are roots that are not covered by The bacteria aid the plant in fixing, or converting,
soil hence out in the air. atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plant
Prop roots develop from horizontally spread can use.
branches of the tree. As the bacteria multiply and the colony grows,
Stilt roots arise from basal nodes of the stem near the nodule will swell. It is in the crook of root
the soil. hairs that the nitrogen-fixing takes place.
Examples: Prop roots: rubber plant, banyan tree Examples: peanuts
Stilt roots: sugarcane, corn
BRACE ROOTS EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF ROOTS
Aerial roots arising from the main stem that ROOT HAIR
penetrates the ground. Outward extensions of epidermal cells which
They are the plant executing an emergency extend between soil particles to collect water and
bypass, reaching into the soil from beyond the solutes (minerals).
clogged area in a desperate attempt to get the ROOT CAP
water and nutrients it needs to survive. The root cap is a thimble-like structure covering
the tip of the root. The root cap protects the tender
 root apex when it makes its way through the soil. Origin of lateral roots (originated in pericycle,
Dome-shaped mass of cells at the tip which cell division pushes new root through cortex,
protect the meristem cells from damage (as root epidermis)
extends through soil). ENDODERMIS
REGION OF ELONGATION The innermost layer of the cortex, consisting of a
This part is responsible for the meristematic single layer of barrel-shaped cells that are closely
activity. The cells in this region are very small, packed and having no intercellular spaces.
have a thin wall and dense protoplasm. Region of Opposite the protoxylem, the cells are thin-walled
root tip where cells get longer, thus lengthening and are called passage cells.
the root. This is the only place where the root The rest of the cells are impregnated with suberin.
grows longer. These suberin bands are called Casparian strips.
REGION OF MATURATION EPIDERMIS
We get the root hairs in this region. These are a The outermost layer of cells which is only one
part of the root epidermis. Older section of root cell thick.
tip where the root begins adding cells to increase Most of the cells here have extensions and form
the width, and where root hairs form. root hairs.
It is made up of dermal tissue
DICOTS ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE ZONES: Like the epidermis of human skin, the root’s
Root Hair Zone – numerous hairs; young root epidermis is protective, preventing damage to the
Zone of Primary Permanent Tissue (young) - root.
derived from apical meristems; fully CORTEX
differentiated (primary tissue) Tissue of unspecialized cells lying between the
Zone of Secondary Tissues (older) - derived epidermis (surface cells) and the vascular, or
from the lateral meristems or cambia conducting, tissues of stems and roots
MONOCOTS ONLY HAVE TWO ZONES: Cortical cells may contain stored carbohydrates or
Region of Rapid Growth: Region where cells other substances such as resins, latex, essential
divide rapidly by mitosis. oils, and tannins.
Apical Meristem: Cells near the tip that can It consists of many layers of thin-walled
divide by mitosis to make any type of plant cell. parenchyma cells with intercellular spaces.
The cortex functions primarily for food storage.
INTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF ROOTS In roots and in some herbaceous stems but not
STELE usually in woody stems, the innermost layer of
Also called vascular cylinder cortical cells is differentiated into a cell layer
Occupies the central position of the root and called the endodermis.
Consists of the pericycle and vascular tissues It often develops into a type of tissue called
The pericycle lies internal to the endodermis and aerenchyma, which contains air spaces produced
generally consists of a single layer of thin-walled by separation, tearing, or dissolution of the cortex
parenchyma cells. Lateral roots originate from the cell walls.
pericycle because it displays its meristematic PITH
characteristics. The pericycle in its inner surface Refers to the soft central cylinder of
is directly in contact with the phloem and xylem parenchymatous tissue in the stem of the plant
strands. The pith is soft because it consists of spongy
PERICYCLE tissues.
It is the outermost layer of the stele. It can be found in the center of monocot roots
It contains cells that can divide and give rise to It has space inside of the vascular tissue.
lateral roots. Monocots have pith in roots, dicots do not have.
It is ring of cells just inside endodermis PITH (STRUCTURE)
 The stem of a vascular plant is the main axial XYLEM
system that grows from the plumule during the Star-shaped with “arm or wedges” extending
embryonic stage and eventually bears leaves towards the pericycle
and/or branches. Plant vascular tissue that conveys water and
Stem arises from the apical meristem (i.e. the dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the
meristematic tissues found at the top or apex of plant
the plant). Also provides physical support
It is the meristem in which the three primary Xylem tissue consists of a variety of specialized,
meristems will arise: water-conducting cells known as tracheary
Protoderm - gives rise to dermal tissues elements.
Procambium - gives rise to vascular tissues Together with phloem (tissue that conducts sugars
Ground Meristem - which gives rise to the from the leaves to the rest of the plant), xylem is
plant’s ground tissue (i.e., the non-dermal, non- found in all vascular plants.
vascular tissues) Vascular plants include: the seedless club mosses,
ferns, horsetails, all angiosperms (flowering
The ground tissue consists essentially of two regions: plants), all gymnosperms (plants with seeds
Cortex - outer region unenclosed in an ovary)
Pith - inner region The xylem tracheary elements consist of cells
PITH VS CORTEX known as tracheids and vessel members, both of
Both the pith and cortex are composed mainly of which are typically narrow, hollow, and
parenchyma tissues (primarily serving as food elongated.
storage) as opposed to collenchyma and Tracheids are less specialized than the vessel
sclerenchyma (both are for mechanical support). members and are the only type of water-
The latter tissues provide support to parenchyma conducting cells in most gymnosperms and
tissues that are made up of thin-walled seedless vascular plants.
parenchyma cells. Water moving from tracheid to tracheid must pass
PITH FUNCTIONS through a thin modified primary cell wall known
The primary function of the pith is to transport as the pit membrane, which serves to prevent the
nutrients throughout the plant and then store the passage of damaging air bubbles.
nutrients within its cells. Vessel members are the principal water-
It has also been found to have a role in tylosis, a conducting cells in angiosperms (though most
physiological healing process of wounded plants. species also have tracheids) and are characterized
PITH (MONOCOTS VS. DICOTS) by areas that lack both primary and secondary cell
Angiosperms are a group of vascular plants that walls, known as perforations.
are widely known as the “flowering plants”. Water flows relatively unimpeded from vessel to
They may be classified into two groups: vessel through these perforations, though
monocots and eudicots (or dicots), based on the fractures and disruptions from air bubbles are also
number of cotyledons. Nevertheless, there are more likely.
other distinctive features. In particular, the Xylem tissue also features fibre cells for support
presence of a pith can be used to characterize and parenchyma (thin-walled, unspecialized cells)
dicots from monocots. for the storage of various substances.
While a dicot stem generally has vascular bundles XYLEM FORMATION
arranged in a ring and a distinct pith, a dicot root Begins when the actively dividing cells of
has star-like vascular tissues instead. growing root and shoot tips (apical meristems)
Monocot generally has vascular bundles scattered give rise to primary xylem
throughout its stem and has no discernible pith, a In woody plants, secondary xylem constitutes a
monocot root has vascular bundles arranged in a major part of a mature stem or root and is formed
ring and a discernible pith in the stele. See figure as the plant expands in girth and builds a ring of
below.
 new xylem around the original primary xylem TRANSVERSE SECTION OF YOUNG DICOT
tissues. ROOTS
When this happens, the primary xylem cells die XYLEM - star-shaped, with “arm or wedges”
and lose their conducting function, forming a hard extending towards the pericycle
skeleton that serves only to support the plant. PROTOXYLEM - xylem cells that are closer to
In the trunk and older branches of a large tree, the pericycle and are smaller in size
only the outer secondary xylem (sapwood) serves METAXYLEM - they are towards the outer area
in water conduction, while the inner part of pericycle and are bigger in size
(heartwood) is composed of dead but structurally The number of protoxylem groups in the roots is
strong primary xylem. expressed by terms monarch, diarch, triarch, and
In temperate or cold climates, the age of a tree polyarch. The phloem is less easy to observe than the
may be determined by counting the number of xylem but occurs in distinct strands between the
annual xylem rings formed at the base of the xylem arms.
trunk (cut in cross section).
PHLOEM ROOT DEVELOPMENT: MONOCOT
Occurs in spaces between xylem arms The phloem and xylem are in loose rings.
Phloem cells form a similar chain on the outer With the phloem towards the outside and the
edges of the xylem, transporting food synthesized xylem towards the inside.
by the leaves downward through the stem. There is no pith in the center.
ROOT HAIRS ROOT DEVELOPMENT: DICOT
The outside of both monocot and dicot roots is There is pith in the very center composed of
covered with a series of hair-like protrusions, parenchyma. Instead, there is xylem tightly
appropriately. packed with branching arms looking somewhat
They maximize the root’s water and mineral like a star.
absorption capabilities because they increase its The phloem fills in the spaces in between the
surface area. arms

CROSS SECTION OF YOUNG DICOT ROOTS ROOT DEVELOPMENT: MONOCOT

Three Regions: Many vascular bundles alternately arranged
Epidermal or Dermal Region (outer region) Xylem exarch (relating to a xylem whose early
Single layer of living cells (may or may not have development is away from the center and toward
root hairs) the periphery)
Cortex (middle region) No presence of cambium
Consists of Two Zones:
Outer zone consisting of several layers of ROOT DEVELOPMENT: DICOT
parenchyma Usually 3-5 groups of phloem and xylem
Inner zone consisting of a single layer of thick- arranged alternately
walled living cells (endodermis) Xylem endarch (relating to a xylem whose early
CROSS SECTION OF MONOCOT ROOTS development is toward the center)
Three Regions: Cambium is present
Epidermal or Dermal Region (outer region)
Cortex (middle region) Structures of a typical monocot and dicot root are
Stele (inner region) similar; however, they differ in three respects:
Stele consists of:
Pericycle
Xylem
Phloem
No vascular cambium