Plant roots

Overview

The root is typically the part of the plant that grows into the soil, although it can be aerial in waterlogged soil. Roots have two main functions, anchoring the plant to the ground, and absorbing nutrients, water, and minerals for the plant. There are typically two types of roots, tap roots and fibrous roots, which will be explained on this page. Plant root systems can be very extensive, and are harder to study than the above ground biomass. Current methods for studying root systems include: the harvest method, isotopic analysis, root ingrowth, and rhizotrons. Roots can often have symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi.

Parts of the plant root

The root hairs are thin hairlike structures growing from the epidermis. These help with the absorption of moisture and nutrients from the soil, which is then transported to the rest of the plant. The majority of plant water absorption happens with the root hairs. The length and shape allows them to have a large surface area while being able to go between soil particles, both of which helps with water absorption. In legume plants, they are involved in root nodule formation.

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In vascular plants, xylem transports nutrients and water in a sap from the roots to the stem and leaves. It uses passive transportation, so it does not need an input of energy to operate. The xylem is primarily composed of dead cells, and can only flow upward. This movement is mainly driven by negative pressures.

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In vascular plants, phloem transports the products of photosynthesis in a sap from the chloroplast down to the roots or storage structures. The sap holds a lot of sucrose, but is water-based. The phloem is primarily composed of living cells and is able to flow in many different directions. It's flow is called translocation, and is mainly caused by positive hydrostatic pressures.

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Pericycle

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Endodermis

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Apical meristem

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Root cap

Types of plant roots

Citations

Gyssels, G., et al. “Impact of Plant Roots on the Resistance of Soils to Erosion by Water: a Review.” Progress in Physical Geography, vol. 29, no. 2, 2005, pp. 189–217.
Cannon, William Austin. “A Tentative Classification of Root Systems.” Ecology, vol. 30, no. 4, 1 Oct. 1949, pp. 542–548. 
http://www.justscience.in/articles/structure-and-function-of-plant-roots/2017/07/01
Glinski, J. Soil Physical Conditions and Plant Roots. CRC Press, 2018.
Russell, Robert Scott. Plant Root Systems: Their Function and Interaction with the Soil. English Language Book Society and McGraw-Hill, 1982.
Esau, K. 1965. Plant Anatomy, 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons. 767 pp.