Paul Maverick Z.

Quisao October 5, 2021

BS Pharmacy 1 Lab Activity 4
PLANT MORPHOLOGY: ROOTS

Learning Objectives:
• To differentiate the types of roots systems in plants.
• To differentiate a monocot and dicot root in plants.

Materials:
Compound microscope
Prepared slides monocot and dicot root

Procedure:
1. Examine the prepared slides using a compound microscope
2. Draw and label the parts of the monocot and dicot root.

Results and Observations:

1. Differentiate taproot, fibrous, and adventitious system.
- When one main root grows straight down into the soil, it is referred to as a taproot. It has
a very limited number of lateral roots that develop and grow from the main root. The
taproot is a type of primary root that has been differentiated further. During the seedling's
development, the primary root is formed from the seedling's radicle.
- A fibrous root, on the other hand, is made up of groups of roots of similar size and length.
They do not go as deep into the soil as a taproot does. All of the roots that make up the
fibrous root are the same size and length. Fibrous root systems do not penetrate deeply into
the soil, instead forming a thick network of roots that hold the soil together.
- The adventitious root (also known as the fibrous root) is made up of a group of roots that
are all the same size and shape. It is critical to secure the plant in the soil. Adventitious
roots are plant roots that form from non-root tissue during normal development as well as
in response to stress conditions such as flooding, nutrient deficiency, and wounding.

2. Describe the main functions of the following regions of the internal morphology of a root:
A. Epidermal region - The epidermis protects and assist in the absorption of nutrients. Root hairs,
which are extensions of root epidermal cells, increase the root's surface area, protect it from water
loss, regulate gas exchange, secrete metabolic compounds, and greatly aid in water and mineral
absorption.
B. Cortex region - Cork is made up of layers of cells formed by the cortex. It is responsible for
transporting materials into the root's central cylinder via diffusion, and it can also be used to store
food in the form of starch.
C. Endodermis - The endodermis facilitates in the regulation of water, ions, and hormones
entering and exiting the vascular system. It may also store starch, play a role in gravity perception,
and protect the plant from toxins entering the vascular system. It also serves as an apoplasmic
barrier for selective nutrient uptake, separating the inner vascular tissue from the outer cortex.
D. Stele/ Vascular cylinder - A vascular system with differentiated xylem vessels that transport
water and nutrients, as well as primary phloem elements that transport photosynthates, can be
found in the stele of the primary root. The bundles of vascular tissue that run through the core of
plant stems and roots are referred to as vascular cylinders.

3. Which root system gives better anchorage and why?

- Tap root system refers to the root system that provides better plant anchorage. Because it consists
of a main root from which several small roots emerge, the tap root system provides better
anchorage for plants. The large number of threadlike roots also increases the surface area available
for water and mineral absorption.
4. What are the compositions of a stele?
- The pith and vascular bundle are the primary composition of stele. The vascular bundles of the
stele are classified as collateral, bicollateral, or concentric based on the orientation of the xylem
and phloem.
5. How are water and minerals absorbed into the roots?
- Water and minerals are transported through xylem tissue in plants. Roots actively take up ions
from the soil to absorb water, resulting in a difference in ion concentration between the root and
the soil. It creates a suction pull that draws water from the roots' xylem cells.
6. What are the three regions of a dicot root?
- Dicot roots feature a major xylem core in the center, arms radiating toward the pericycle, and
phloem between the arms. The first region is the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the
stem, is the first region. Epidermis is made up of a single layer of cells. The outer cell walls are
thickened and cutinized significantly. The second region is cortex, the cortex is the region between
the epidermis and the cortex is the region between the epidermis and the cortex is the region
between the epidermis and the cortex is the region between the epidermis The endodermis, also
known as the starch-sheath, is the cortex's deepest layer. The third region is collenchyma, which
consists of modified parenchyma cells with thicker cellulose walls at angles where three or more
cells are in contact.
7. What do healthy and unhealthy root systems look like?
- Roots that are healthy are white or tan, succulent, abundant, and long enough to maintain the soil
in the pot's shape. If there are any visible root tips, they should be white. Roots that are healthy
can be black or light, but they should feel solid and supple. If the plant's roots are dark and crumbly,
that means the plant is unhealthy. Furthermore, roots infected by root rot will appear black and
mushy. When you touch the affected roots, they may practically fall off the plant.