Root system

1. Anchoring the plant

firmly to a substrate
(soil)
2. Absorbing water and
minerals
3. production of
hormones
Organization of Root Systems
Three types of root system

1. Tap root –
Develops from embryonic
root called the radicle;
after germination it
grows to become the
largest root in the
system.
Organization of Root Systems
The Radicle – origin of tap root
2. Fibrous –
similarly sized roots,
this arise because
the radicle dies
during or
immediately after
germination.
3. Adventitious –
do not arise from pre-
existing roots,

increase the absorptive and

transport capacities of the
root system.
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
Organization of Root Systems
Tap root systems

External structure of roots

1. Taproot – single prominent
root
2. Lateral or branch roots-
smaller 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.
STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL ROOTS

Root hairs

Longitudinal section of root

STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL ROOTS
 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 3. primary phloem
Ranunculus root (Buttercup) 4. vascular cambium
 B
C
D
E

Cross section of young dicot root

Beside is the enlarged view of b.Pericycle

Vascular cylinder or stele region. 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 four xylem poles five xylem poles many xylem poles
eudicot eudicot eudicot monocot
Protostele protostele protostele siphonostele
Endodermis- controls the
passage of minerals
across the vascular
tissues
Consist of
1. thick-walled cells Casparian strips – are bands
(encrusted with of lignin and suberin on the radial
suberin and lignin) walls (top, bottom and side walls)
2.and passage cells causing the cell walls to be water
(thin-walled) proof.
 Diffusion paths in roots
Apoplastic Symplastic
Water and mineral The material has passed
diffuses only through through a plasma membrane
walls in intercellular and enters the protoplasm
spaces
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
b. xylem
Siphonostele –
c. phloem
a band of vascular d. pith parenchyma
tissues surrounding a
parenchymatous pith.
 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 Expaded epidermis
path, ultimately destroying Vascular tissues
And cortex of parental
endodermis.
root
 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

 Prop/brace roots– for additional support and
absorption

Corn - Zea mays Screwpine- Pandanus

Root modification
Prop roots – for additional support and absorption

Banyan trees
Buttresses- expanded roots for great support,
upper side grows faster than the lower side
Water retention 3. velamen in aerial roots of
orchids

photosynthesis 4. chlorophyllous roots

Movement - Contractile roots of bulbs like onions,
gladiolus, garlic
Parasitic (haustorial roots) for
absorption

Tristerix Mistle toe

Parasitic plant of Phoradendron
cactus
Pneumatophores- breathing roots
of mangove for aeration
enlarged fleshy tap root- carrots, ube,
tugue, radish, turnips,
Root nodules and nitrogen fixation
Rhizobium leguminosarum
 Mycorrhizae- association between
a soil fungus and roots
2 types;
1. Ectomycorrhizae
2. Endomycorrhizae
Other types and root modifications

8. Protection 8. spiny roots of tugue