Root Structure and Function

Penetration of Soil
Gravitropism Downward Growth
Water and Mineral Intake
Conduction (Xylem and Phloem)
Storage of Materials
Branching
Anchorage
Zone of Maturation - cell differentiation
Protoderm
Ground Meristem
Provascular

Zone of Cell Elongation - cell expansion

Notice how the growing zone has no

root hairs or lateral roots!

Growth among soil particles would

result in shear forces.

Zone of Cell Division - new cells by mitosis

Root Cap - penetration, padding

Mucilage Slough Cells
 Gravitropism
Root Tip Senses Gravity
Auxin Hormone Produced
Auxin Accumulates on Lower
Growth Inhibited on Lower…
Relative to Upper
Root Curves Downward

Water and Mineral Uptake

Root Hairs Increase Surface Area

Root Hairs Secrete Acid (H+)
H+ Cation Exchange w/Minerals
Mineral Uptake into Roots
Radish seedlings have roots with long root hairs that
increase the surface area for water and mineral uptake

©1996 Norton Presentation Maker, W. W. Norton & Company

Osmosis: passive movement of water from pure to polluted area
cell membrane cell wall

water flow

cytoplasmic solutes soil solutes

more concentrated more dilute
Water potential low Water potential high
Root hairs are responsible for cation exchange
cortex cell root hair penetrates soil spaces
epidermal cell

soil particles
intercellular covered with
gas space capillary water
and minerals
Ca2+Ca
H 2++

H+
to
Ca2+
vascular voids with air
cylinder space

water
Dicot Mature Root Structure - Anatomy Ranunculus acris - buttercup
Epidermis

Cortex

Vascular Cylinder
What does all of this autumn color (leaf senescence) have to do with roots?
Root Vascular Cylinder and Cortex Ranunculus acris - buttercup

Endodermis

Cortex

Phloem

Meta-
xylem

Endarch: protoxylem is
inside the metaxylem Proto-
xylem
Pericycle
Exarch: protoxylem is
outside the metaxylem √
Protosteles: Specialized Versions
haplostele actinostele plectostele
cortex
phloem
xylem
dicot
root
siphonostele solenostele dictyostele
cortex leaf gap
phloem
xylem
leaf trace
pith

monocot
root
eustele atactostele

dicot monocot
stem stem
 Symplastic

Apoplastic

©1996 Norton Presentation Maker, W. W. Norton & Company

 endodermis
xylem inside cortex outside

The endodermis is
minerals cannot
thus responsible for go between cells
selective mineral
uptake. minerals must
go through cells

cell membrane
suberin-
proteins (active
waxy barrier
transporters)
to apoplastic
determine which
movement
minerals may be
taken up
Mineral uptake: Active transport against concentration gradient
cell membrane cell wall too expensive?
Calcium
transport
ADP + Pi protein
Ca2+ Ca2+ Ca2+
ATP

water flow

cytoplasmic solutes soil solutes

more concentrated more dilute
Water potential low Water potential high
Osmosis: passive movement of water from pure to polluted area
Root Anatomy: Dicot Root Cross Section
Epidermis - root hairs, mineral and water intake
Cortex - storage, defense
Endodermis - selective mineral uptake
Casparian strips in radial walls

Pericycle - lateral root formation (periderm)

(Vascular Cambium - makes 2° tissues)

Phloem - CH2O delivery from leaves

Xylem - conduct water and mineral upwards

One Vascular Cylinder (Phloem + (Cambium) + Xylem)
Radial Xylem-Phloem Arrangement
Exarch Xylem Maturation
Tetrarch (this example)
Monocot Root
Cross Section

Pith

Xylem/Phloem Arr?
Xylem Maturation?
Smilax-catbrier ______arch?
How is this section different?
Smilax - catbrier
A closer look…
What do these features tell you?
Starch
Cutin/Suberin
Mitochondria

Sieve Tube Element

Companion Cell
Vessel with Lignin

Xylem Parenchyma

Lignified Pith Parenchyma

 What is the Pericycle doing?

Root Cap

Growing out through cortex

Zone of Cell Division

In fibrous root systems, there is

much lateral root formation.
Here you can see two root
apices initiating from the
pericycle.
Notice their connection to the
ridges of xylem
But shrubs also generally have
some compromise for uprooting
forces…feeder roots extending
laterally.
In shrubs like this tea plant
(Camellia sinensis), the root
system will be more tap root than
fibrous root.
Notice the diameter of this tap
root compared to this man’s
waist!
Tropical soils are nutrient poor.
Roots must traverse the surface
for minerals, so roots grow on
the surface (no tap root).
So, to keep this tall baobab tree
standing upright, the roots grow
in diameter but only in the
vertical dimensions to form
ridge roots…called buttress
roots.
My wife here is as large as I am
so you can see these roots are a
meter tall!
These roots inspired gothic
cathedral architects to design
buttress walls.
 http://www.oxc.com.hk/raoul_nathalie/gallery/images/04%20Buttress.jpg

http://www.dublincity.ie/dublin/citywalls/buttress.jpg
Prop roots such as these inspired flying buttresses. Pandanus utilis - screw pine
 http://williamcalvin.com/BHM/img/FlyingButtressND.jpg

http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~ajm/Pages/Graphics/flyingbuttress.JPG
Avicennia germinans (black mangrove)