Root
In vascular plants, the root is an organ that
typically lies below the surface of the soil.
It is a part of plant body that bears no leaves
and lacks nodes.
An individual root tissue developing from the
seed or stem is called an axis and branches
from this are known as laterals.
Root system
Roots and their branches collectively
form an integrated net called root
system.
Each root axis plus laterals is a root and
each root is an individual member of the
root system.
A typical root system
Forms/Types of root systems
Monocots: Fibrous root system
Seminal roots
Originate from seed
No. is genetically controlled e.g. 4-7 in
wheat
Nodal roots
Originate from shoot base
No. is environmentally controlled
No. is related to no. of leaves and tillers
Forms/Types of root systems
Dicots: Tap root system
Main single root axis
Lateral roots originate from the main tap root
Tap root system Fibrous root system
Seminal and nodal roots of wheat
Root structure: Cross section
Root structure: Cross section
Root structure: Longitudinal section
Root structure: Longitudinal section
Root tip and vascular tissues
Root growth
Root grows from distal end.
Four developmental zones at root tip
Root cap
Meristematic zone
Elongation zone
Maturation zone
Root growth: developmental zones
Root cap
Root cap cells are formed by root cap initials.
As new cells appear, old cells are pushed
towards tip and sloughed off.
Root cap cells
perceive gravitational stimuli.
Secrete mucopolysaccharides, help in
penetration.
Protect the apical meristem from
mechanical injury.
Root growth: developmental zones
Meristematic zone
Cell division occurs in this zone that provides new cells
for elongation and differentiation.
Primary meristem
Lies just under the root cap.
Gives rise to primary root.
Secondary meristem
Pericycle in mature region of the root.
Gives rise to lateral roots which grow out through
the cortex and epidermis.
Root growth: developmental zones
Elongation zone
The site of rapid and extensive cell elongation.
Some cells continue to divide and elongate.
However, rate of division decreases with
increasing distance from the meristem.
Maturation zone
Cells acquire differentiated characteristics.
Differentiation may start earlier but the cells
achieve mature state in this zone.
Root hairs
Root hairs are tubular/hair like outgrowths on the
epidermis of a plant root. These are lateral
extensions of a single cell and only rarely branched.
Root hairs vary between 5 and 17 micrometres in
diameter, and 80 to 1,500 micrometres in length.
Root hairs can survive for 2 to 3 weeks but new root
hairs are continually being formed, thus the root hair
coverage stays the same.
Root hairs increase the surface area of the roots,
increasing the capacity to absorb nutrients and water.
Root hairs
Root functions
Primary functions
Absorb nutrients and water from the soil
Anchor the plant in the soil
Secondary functions
Food storage
Synthesis of growth regulators e.g. auxins
Propagation and dispersal
Root characteristics
Features of individual root that show systemetic
variation
Diameter
Color
Texture
Growth potential and longivity
Root characteristics
Diameter
Varies widely among the species.
Fine and long roots.
Rapid turn over
Exploit more soil volume
Mostly in less favourable soil conditions
Thick and small roots
Better penetration in compact soil
More resistant to herbivores
Root characteristics
Colour
Root colour may vary among different
species
Usually young roots are whitish or pink and
Old roots are brownish.
In light, chlorophyll containing roots are
green.
Roots with mycorrhizal fungi are often
yellow.
Root characteristics
Texture
Root surface varies with
Number, size and duration of the root hairs
The persistance of the epidermis and
cortex, and
The nature of the bark that covers woody
roots
Rhizosphere soil, microflora and
mycorrhizal sheath also affects the root
surface.
Root characteristics
Growth potential and longevity
The relative growth potential of
primary and secondary meristems
differ among the species
Resultantly, species differ widely for
root length and mass.