Lecture - 3

Lecture 3

Mechanism of water absorption

 Water Absorption

Entry of water from soil to the plant system

mainly through root

Root
hair
zone

Piliferous layer
 Zone of maturation

Root Hairs

Region of elongation

Root Meristem
Root Cap
Externally, there are two areas of root:

1. Root cap 2. Root hairs.

Root cap

•The root cap is the root's outermost tip. It consists

of cells that are sloughed off as the root grows
through the soil.

• Its function is to protect the root meristem.

Root hairs

Delicate, elongated epidermal cells that occur in a

small zone just behind the root's growing tip.

Their function is to increase the root's surface area

and absorptive capacity. Root hairs usually live 1 or
2 days.

Walls of root hairs permeable, hydrophillic and

consist of pectin substance and cellulose
Cross Section of Root
Passage of Water from soil to xylem
Velamen

Many epiphytic orchids develop special aerial adventitious

roots which can absorb moisture from the atmosphere

A special water absorbing tissue is present around the

cortex and epidermis of such roots which is called as

velamen.

Aquaporins

In recent years some integral membrane

protein have been discovered which

from water selective channels in cell

membranes (lipid bilayers ) and

facilitate faster movement of water

across the membrane into the plant

cells.These channels have been called

as aquaporins.
 Mechanism of water absorption

Active Absorption Passive Absorption

1. Osmotic absorption
2. Non-osmotic absorption
1. Active absorption of water
Root cells play active role

(a)Osmotic absorption

Water is absorbed from the soil into the xylem

of the roots along the osmotic gradient

(b) Non-osmotic absorption

Water is absorbed against the osmotic

gradient by spending energy
Active osmotic absorption Osmotic Theory – Atkins & Priestley

1. First step in osmotic absorption - imbibition of soil

water by the hydrophilic cell walls of root hairs.

2. Osmotic pressure of the cell sap of root hairs is

usually higher than the OP of the soil water.
OP of root hair > OP of soil water
• Therefore, water from the cell walls enters into the
cell through plasma membrane by osmotic diffusion.
• As a result, OP of root hairs now become lower,
while their turgor pressure is increased.
3. Now the cortical cells adjacent to root hairs have high
OP in comparison to the root hairs.

• Therefore, water is drawn into the adjacent cortical cells

from root hairs by osmotic diffusion

• In the same way, by cell to cell osmotic diffusion

gradually water reaches the inner most cortical cells
and the endodermis.
4. Osmotic diffusion of water into endodermis takes place
through special thin walled passage cells because the
other endodermal cells have casparian strips on thin
walls which are impervious to water.
5. Water from endodermal cells is down into the cells of
pericycle by osmotic diffusion which now become turgid
and their turgor pressure is increased.

6. In the last step, water is drawn into xylem from turgid

pericycle cells.

• When water enters into xylem from pericycle, a pressure is

developed in the xylem of roots which can raise the water
to a certain height in the xylem.

• This pressure is called as root pressure.

 Active absorption

b. Non Osmotic Theory – Thimann & Kramer

Absorption of water takes place even when OP

of soil water is higher than OP of cell sap

1. Against osmotic gradient

2. Utilizes metabolic energy through respiration

3. Comparatively insignificant
 2. Passive absorption of water

• Takes place at high rate of transpiration.

• Rapid evaporation creates a tension in water in the xylem
of the leaves.
• This tension is transmitted to water in xylem of roots
through the xylem of stem and water raise upward to reach
the transpiring surfaces.
• As the results soil water enters into the cortical cells
through root hairs to reach the xylem of roots to maintain the
supply of water.
• The force of this entry of water is created in leaves due to
rapid transpiration and hence, the root cells remain
passive during this process.
 2. Passive absorption of water

It is mainly due to Transpiration

The root cells do not play active role

and remain passive

Leaves play major role

 Passive absorption
Due to Transpiration
• Tension is created in the xylem (leaves)
• Tension is transmitted to roots
• Tension in the water column results in upward movement of water
 Different pathways of water movement
from root hair to xylem

1. Apoplast movement

2. Symplast movement

3. Transmembrane Movement
APOPLASTPATHWAY

If once water enters the root hair, it travels

from cell to cell, across the cortex, in the
CELL WALLS ONLY, it is called as 'APOPLAST'
pathway.

Because cellulose is pervious and non-

selective, both water and all dissolved
minerals may be carried this way.

The plasma membrane (separates cell wall

from cytoplasm) need not be crossed, not
until the endodermis - a defensive ring of
cells. At this point, the impervious Casparian
strip blocks progress and forces both the
water and mineral salts to cross the plasma
membrane into the cytoplasm, where they
can continue on the symplast pathway.

So OSMOSIS need not be involved up to this

point, only diffusion.
SYMPLAST pathway

Water can travel from cell to cell through the

plasmodesmata in the cell walls. This is called the
'SYMPLAST' pathway. It is selective

'TRANS MEMBRANE' pathway

Water can also enter the vacuoles (which are within the
cytoplasm), then pass from vacuole to vacuole. This is
called the 'CELL TO CELL' or 'TRANS MEMBRANE'
pathway.
= Transmembrane
 Active and Passive water absorption

Active absorption Passive absorption

Due to the activity of the root hairs Due to the activity of the upper part
of the plant - shoot and leaves
Osmotic and non osmotic Due to active transpiration in the
mechanisms are involved upper part
In non osmotic type of absorption, Energy is not required
respiratory energy is utilized
Movement of water in root Movement of water in root hair &
Hair & cortex is Symplast cortex is Apoplast

The evidences are root pressure, The evidence is Transpiration /

bleeding and guttation Absorption ratio
FACTORS AFFECTING ABSORPTION OF WATER

Soil Factors
1. Availability of soil
water
2. Presence of salts
3. Soil aeration
4. Soil temperature
Plant Factors

1. Transpiration
2. Root system
3. Metabolism
Soil Factors
Availability of soil water

Rate of absorption of water is generally uniform

If the range of water between the FC & PWP

Decreases soil water below PWP ↓ absorption rate

Increases soil water above FC ↓ absorption rate

Higher amount of water in soil leads to poor aeration

 Concentration of soil solution
Presence of more salts in soil

Increased concentration of soil solution

Water potential of soil decreased compare to plant

Rate of absorption decreased

Plants fail to grow in saline soil

Soil air
Absorption of water is reduced in poorly aerated soils
than well aerated soil

Due to the deficiency of O2 and accumulation of CO2 -

retard the metabolic activities like respiration in roots

Soil temperature
Increase in soil temperature beyond 30°C retards
water absorption

At low temperature (<20°C) also water absorption is

Decreased; At about 0°C, it is almost stopped

Ideal soil temperature for maximum water absorption is

20 - 30°C
 Plant Factors
Transpiration

 The rate of absorption of water is directly proportional to

transpiration

 High transpiration leads to more absorption

 Absorbing root systems

Deep and profusely branched root – More absorption

Number and length of root hairs – Direct proportion

Lack of suberization in root – Advantage one

 Metabolism

Metabolism in root and water absorption are closely related

Factors inhibiting rate of respiration such as poor aeration

and KCN reduces the absorption rate

Root metabolism is important for root hair formation and

growth of root
 Review
1. Tracheids & Vessels are Dead

2. Passive absorption of water due to the role of leaves and shoot

3. Which parts of root is involved in absorption of water in higher

plants? Root hair zone

4. Main force behind passive absorption of water by roots, is

transpiration pull

5. Root pressure is developed in, xylem

6. Water absorbing tissue called velamen is characteristic in orchids

7. Aquaporins are formed in cell membranes by integral membrane

protein
 Review

Cohesion force Cell wall and non selective

Adhesion force Plasmadesmata and selective

Ascent of sap Cell to cell and Vacuole
Casparian strip Endodermal cell

Apoplast movement of water Attraction between unlike

molecule (different)

Symplast movement of water Attraction between like

( same) molecules

Transmembrane movement of Upward movement of water

water
 Review

Cohesion force Cell wall and non selective

Adhesion force Plasmadesmata and selective

Ascent of sap Cell to cell and Vacuole
Casparian strip Endodermal cell

Apoplast movement of water Attraction between unlike

(different molecule)

Symplast movement of water Attraction between like

( same) molecules

Transmembrane movement of Upward movement of water

water