Root Hair Cells

Root hairs cells are found on the outer surface of plant roots; they have root hairs, which are extensions
of the cell membrane that grow between soil particles and absorb water and minerals from the soil

The root hair increases the surface area of the cells significantly

This large surface area is important as it increases the rate of absorption

Water enters the root hair cells by osmosis

This happens because soil water has a higher water potential than the cytoplasm of the root hair cell

Minerals enter root hair cells by active transport.

Root hair cells increase the surface area of roots for the absorption of water and minerals from the soil

Root hair cells in plant roots diagram

Pathway Taken by Water

Water enters roots via root hair cells, by the process of osmosis

Water then moves across the root, through the cells of the root cortex

Water travels from the roots to the leaves of plants in the xylem, where it moves into the cells of the leaf
mesophyll

The pathway of water through a plant can be summarised as follows:

root hair cell → root cortex cells → xylem → leaf mesophyll cells

Water movement across plant roots diagram

Water enters roots via the roots hair cells and crosses the cortex to reach the xylem

Water movement through a leaf diagram

Water exits the xylem in the leaves, where it enters the mesophyll cells before being lost through the
stomata.

Transpiration

Water travels from the roots to the leaves of plants in the xylem vessels

When water reaches the leaves it enters leaf mesophyll cells

Water evaporates from the surface of leaf mesophyll cells into the air spaces in the leaf, from where it
diffuses out of the leaf via the stomata in transpiration

Transpiration can be defined as:

The loss of water vapour from the leaves of plants

Transpiration diagram
Water evaporates from the surface of leaf mesophyll cells and diffuses out of the stomata during
transpiration

Transpiration has several functions in plants:

Transporting mineral ions

Providing water to keep cells turgid in order to support the structure of the plant

Providing water to leaf cells for photosynthesis

Keeping the leaves cool.

Transpiration Stream

During transpiration water molecules evaporate from the surface of mesophyll cells in the leaf before
diffusing out of the leaf through the stomata

When water is lost from leaves in this way, more water is drawn up the xylem to replace it; this
movement of water in the xylem from the roots to the leaves of plants is the transpiration stream
The transpiration stream is maintained by forces of attraction, known as cohesion, between water water
molecules as follows:

Water is lost from the leaves during transpiration

More water molecules are drawn into the leaf by osmosis

The moving water molecules 'pull' neighbouring water molecules up the xylem behind them due to
forces of attraction between the molecules

A continuous column of water moves up the xylem

The upward force generated by transpiration in the leaves is transpiration pull.

Water is drawn upwards in the xylem in a continuous column due to attractive forces between water
molecules.
 The Xylem & Phloem

Plants contain vascular tissue for transport of substances, including:

Xylem vessels (pronounced: zy-lem) transport water and minerals from the roots to the stem and leaves

Phloem vessels transport sucrose and amino acids from sources to sinks

These vessels are arranged throughout the root, stem and leaves in groups called vascular bundles

n stems vascular bundles are arranged around the outer edge, with phloem vessels closer to the outside
of the stem, and xylem vessels closer to the inside

In roots there is a single vascular bundle in the centre of the root, inside which the xylem forms an 'x'
shape and phloem are arranged around the outside of the xylem

Stems and roots also contain a region of tissue known as the cortex; this is a layer of tissue that lies
between the vascular tissue ands the outer surface of the plant

In stems the cortex is a narrow band of tissue, as the vascular tissue is close to the surface of the stem

In roots the cortex is wide and takes up most of the root

Functions of the cortex include:

Transport, e.g. of water towards the vascular tissue

Storage, e.g. of starch

Distribution of xylem and phloem diagram

Vascular tissue is distributed differently in different parts of a plant