ROOTS
Root Types
• Taproot
– One main root
– Ex. dandelions, burdock
– Napiform Root = taproot
with starch storage area
such as beet or carrot
• Fibrous roots
– Many roots
– Ex. turfgrass, corn
Root Functions
• Absorb water and minerals
• Anchor the plant to the
ground and support the above
ground structures
• Store food
Root Anatomy
• Seminal Root
– First structure to emerge from
the seed upon germination
(becomes PRIMARY ROOT)
• Lateral Roots
– Secondary roots off the
primary root
• Root Cap
– Layers of hard cells to protect
the root as it pushes through
the soil
Root Anatomy (cont.)
• Embryonic Region
– Produces new cells (apical meristem)
• Elongation Region
– Cells grow (elongate) to full size
• Maturation Region
– Cells are fully grown
– Root hairs and new roots can form from this
region
Root Anatomy (cont.)
• Epidermis
– Cells on root surface where water/minerals
enter via osmosis and diffusion
• Root hairs (Trichome example)
– Increase surface area to absorb water and
nutrients
• ½ inch from root cap
• Each hair is its own individual cell which will live
only a few days and will NOT form into a lateral
root
Monocot VS Dicot Roots
• VERY SIMILAR
– Epidermis, cortex, endosperm, and
pericycle are the same
– Vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) of
monocots form bundles with the xylem
toward the inside in DICOT
– Vascular bundles form a ring around the
pith, which is centrally located in
MONOCOT
Monocot VS
Dicot Roots
Healthy Roots
 White or nearly white and smells fresh
 Black, brown, or dark orange and smell rotten or sour
= root is having problems.
 Outside = roots in top 2 feet of soil
 Pot = roots evenly dispersed throughout the soil
 Watering = most important way to keep the root
system healthy
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Drainage holes
Soak with water until it is dripping out of the drainage holes
Allow soil to dry slightly before re-watering
Overwatering usually is TOO often not TOO much at one time
Water Absorption – FYI
(understand the process not memorize it)
 Water enters the root through root hairs and the
epidermis.
 It moves horizontally through the cortex, endodermis,
and pericycle before reaching the xylem.
 Water reaches the xylem by one of two pathways. One
path is through the cells between the epidermis and
the xylem, which is called the intracellular route.
 The other path, by which a greater volume of water
flows, is referred to as the extracellular route. In the
extracellular route, water moves through the spaces
between cells.