ROOTS
The part of the plant axis which normally
develops below the surface of the soil.
The roots are the least obvious part of the plant
since they are mostly underground, but in
structure and function, they are very complex.
The primary difference between the root and
stem is the absence of nodes and internodes in
the roots.
The main functions of the rootare anchorage
and absorption
Major Functions:
1.Anchorage – to locate water and minerals,
roots permeate the soil. In doing so, they
anchor the plant in one place for its entire life.
2.Absorption – roots absorb large amounts of
water and dissolved minerals (nitrates, EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF ROOTS
phosphates, and sulfates) from the soil..
3.Conduction - water and minerals upward into
the stem and food from leaves to storage
regions of roots
4.Storage – roots store large amounts of energy
reserves, initially produced in the leaves of
plants via photosynthesis, and transported in
the phloem, as sugar, to the roots for storage,
usually as sugar or starch, until they are
needed.
5. Reproduction
6.Photosynthesis
TAPROOT SYSTEM
- Originates from the seed radicle
- Consist of one main root
- Generally growing straightforward
- Smaller lateral or branch roots.
- Common among dicot plants
TYPES OF ROOT SYSTEM
PRIMARY ROOT
- First root that comes out from a
germinating seed.
- It is also called radicle.
SECONDARY ROOT
FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEM
- Roots arising from the primary root.
- Consist of numerous fine roots similar
in diameter TERTIARY ROOT
- Originates from the seed radicle
- Common among monocot plants - Roots arising from the secondary root.
- Example: Onion, grass INTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF ROOTS
EPIDERMAL REGION
- Outermost layer of cells which is only
one cell thick.
- Most of the cells here have extensions
ADVENTITIOUS ROOT SYSTEM and form root hairs.
- Roots grow from any part ofthe plant CORTEX REGION
other than the radicle.
- Develop from the base of stems, nodes, - Consist of many layers of thin-walled
internodes and in some cases from parenchyma cells with intercellular
leaves. spaces.
- Cortex functions for food storage.
ADVENTITIOUS ROOT
ENDODERMIS
- Roots arising from parts other than the
radicle. - Innermost layer of the cortex
- They may arise fromleaves, nodes, - Consisting of a single layer of barrel-
stems and internodes. shaped cells
- Closely -packed and having no
intercellular spaces.
- Passage cells – thin walled cells located
opposite the protoxylem.
- Casparian strips – suberin bands
DIFFERENCE OF MONOCOT AND DICOT
STELE In dicot roots, the number of protoxylem group
varies from two to five (diarchs, triarchs,
- Vascular cylinder tetrarchs or pentarchs); while in monocot roots
- Occupies the central portion of the root the number is generally more than ten
- Consists of the pericycle and vascular (polyarch).
tissues.
2. In dicot roots, there is generally no pith. The
Pericycle – lies internal to the endodermis and metaxylem occupies the center of the root. I
generally consist of a singular layer of thin monocots, a parenchymatous pith is found at
walled parenchyma cells. Lateral roots originate the center.
from the pericycle because it displays its
meristematic characteristics. 3. Monocot roots exhibit a siphonostele while
dicot roots have a protostele.
STRUCTURE OF MONOCOT AND DICOT ROOTS
ANATOMY OF MONOCOT ROOT
Just like the young dicot root, monocot roots
also have regions: epidermis, cortex, and the
stele (or vascular cylinder).
The basic structure of a dicot and monocot root
is the same
ANATOMY OF MONOCOT ROOT - This region is responsible for the
increase in length of the root into
The stele is composed of the following:
various distinctive cell types.
Pericycle – has a structure similar to that of a - This is also called the region of
young dicot roots. differentiation or root hair zone. This
region can be clearly seen in a young
Xylem – Polyarch and has a center occupied by root because of the presence of
parenchyma and not by tracheary elements. numerous root hairs that increase the
Phloem – occupies the spaces between the absorptive area of the cell.
radial arms of the xylem. - The cells in this region are already
mature and performs specific functions
Pith – composed of parenchymatous cells found like protective covering, transport and
at the center. support among others.
Generally, three regions are recognized in
young roots. Starting from the root tip upward,
they are the region of cell division, region of
elongation, and the region of
MERISTEMATIC REGION
- Growing apex of the root
- It is covered and protected at the tip by
loosely-arranged parenchymatous cells
that form what is called root cap.
- The root cap is thimble- shaped.
- The cells in this region are small, cube-
shaped, thin walled and have large
SPECIALIZED ROOTS
centrally-located nuclei.
- It is called the meristematic region since Some plants have roots that are specialized to
the cells here are actively dividing. perform functions other than their primary
function of water absorption and anchorage.
REGION OF ELONGATION
These modifications are the following:
- Found above the meristematic region.
- The cells elongate several times their 1.Food storage – enlarged roots that look like
original length and push the root tip they arise from the base of the tree trunk.
through the soil.
- This region is responsible for the 2.Water storage-fascicled roots – enlarged and
increase in the length of the root. fleshy and succulent roots.
REGION OF MATURATION 3.Reproduction or propagation – formation of
adventitious root buds
- Lies above the region of elongation and
extends upward. The cells are 4.Gas exchange – presence of pneumatophores,
elongated. especially in mangrove plants.
5.Support
a.Buttress roots – big roots that look like they
arise from the base of the tree trunk.
b.Prop or stilt roots – aerial roots arising from
branches.
c.Brace roots – aerial roots arising from the
main stem that penetrates the ground.
d.Clinging roots – aerial roots that cling to some
kind of support.
7.Protection – presence of spine or thorns.
8.Photosynthesis – green aerial roots.
