ROOT SYSTEM

The roots are modified organs found in vascular plants that transport water and nutrients to the plant body, allowing the plants to grow taller more quickly. The majority of the time, they are found below the soil surface, although some of the roots may be aerial and grow above it.

What are Plant Roots?

The plant root is a modified organ that transports water and nutrients from the soil to the entire plant body. The following is the anatomy of a plant’s root:

There are four types of root morphology:

1. Roto Cap: The root cap of fresh roots aids in the penetration of the roots into the soil. The roots generate a sticky covering that provides lubrication as they move deeper into the earth, and finally the root caps are sloughed off.
2. Apical Meristem: The apical meristem, which is located behind the root cap, is responsible for the production of new root cells. It is one of three types of meristems that differentiates further to produce new cell types.
3. Elongation Zone: The elongation zone is the location where freshly produced cells lengthen. It is divided into three sections: the cell division area, the elongation area, and the maturation area.
4. Hair: Root hair cells are specialised structures that assist plants to absorb water and minerals.

Different Types of Roots

The primary root and secondary root make up the real root system. The roots have become more specialised in order to perform more adaptive roles.

1. Taproot: It is made up of a major core root to which are attached little lateral roots known as root hairs.
2. Fibrous Root: The main stem branches out into thin, modestly developed bushy roots.
3. Adventitious Roots: Root tissues developed from any non-root tissue produced during normal growth and in response to stress.

Modifications of Types of Roots in Plants:

1. As food storage increases, the adventitious roots become thicker and fleshier.

Tuberous Root: Sweet potato

Fasciculated Fleshy Roots: Dahlia

Palmate Roots: Orchis

Nodulose Roots: Ginger, turmeric

Moniliform or Beaded Roots: Indian spinach

2. Prop or Pillar:

The horizontal branches give rise to pillar-like formations. There are 1775 props in a banyan tree in an Indian botanical garden.

3. Stilt Roots:

The basal nodes give rise to the short and thick supporting roots. They generate fibrous roots after piercing the earth for sturdy support. It usually happens to improve water and mineral salt absorption

4. Clinging or Climbing Roots:

Climbers have non-absorptive adventitious roots.

5. Assimilatory Roots:

Photosynthesis-capable green roots are known as assimilatory roots. They grow from the stem nodes and are heavily branched to improve the amount of surface area available for photosynthesis.

6. Parasitic Roots:

The horizontal branches give rise to pillar-like formations. There are 1775 props in a banyan tree in an Indian botanical garden.

The basal nodes give rise to the short and thick supporting roots. They generate fibrous roots after piercing the earth for sturdy support. It usually happens to improve water and mineral salt absorption.

Climbers have non-absorptive adventitious roots.

5. Assimilatory Roots: Photosynthesis-capable green roots are known as assimilatory roots. They grow from the stem nodes and are heavily branched to improve the amount of surface area available for photosynthesis.
6. Parasitic Roots: Parasites have roots that assist them take nourishment from their hosts. Sucking roots is another name for them.
7. Epiphytic or Aerial Roots:

Epiphytic roots are the roots of plants that live on the surface of other plants for space and shelter.

8. Floating Roots:

They appear at each node of the adventitious roots, where some of them store air and inflate, causing the plant to float.

9. Reproductive Roots:

The roots are succulent and produce adventitious buds, which develop into new plants under favourable conditions.

All of these changes occur as a result of plant root growth, which is dependent on the support it offers to the plants in various forms.

Conclusion

Let’s look at what roots are useful for, and how they safeguard the environment, in addition to all of these activities. The distribution of plant roots in the soil is determined by the plant’s shape. In deserts and temperate coniferous forests, the deepest roots can be discovered. The tree’s roots can extend as far as the tree’s height. Plant growth is influenced by soil temperature. Plant-plant interaction occurs in the soil as a medium. Roots are important in predicting the environment because they hold soil particles together to prevent soil erosion.