BotanyLesson 3 of 6 in the course Plant Form and Physiology

Root Systems, Root-Tip Growth, Anatomy, and Modifications

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Roots do much more than hold a plant in place. They help plants take up essential resources, store food, and grow in ways suited to their environment. This lesson introduces the main functions and types of roots and explains how a root tip grows.

Some roots are also modified to absorb moisture from the air or exchange gases. Most roots grow underground, but adventitious roots can emerge aboveground from a plant’s shoot.

All flashcards

What are the three major functions of roots?
Roots anchor the plant, absorb water and minerals and transport them upward, and store products of photosynthesis.
How do tap root and fibrous root systems differ?
A tap root system has one dominant downward-growing root with lateral branches. A fibrous system has many similarly sized roots that form a dense network, often near the soil surface.
What is the radicle?
The radicle is the embryonic root that emerges during germination and develops into the plant’s root system.
What happens in the three root-tip zones?
Cells divide in the zone of cell division, lengthen in the zone of elongation, and specialize in the zone of maturation and differentiation.
How do root hairs aid absorption?
Root hairs are extensions of epidermal cells that increase the root’s surface area, helping it absorb water and minerals.

Quiz questions

  1. Which set lists the three major functions of seed plant roots?Answer: Anchoring the plant, absorbing and transporting water and minerals, and storing products of photosynthesis.
  2. What is the defining structure of a tap root system?Answer: One main root grows downward, with smaller lateral roots branching from it.
  3. How can a fibrous root system help reduce soil erosion?Answer: Its dense network of roots helps hold soil in place.
  4. How are xylem and phloem arranged in a typical dicot root?Answer: They alternate in an X-shaped arrangement.
  5. How do orchid epiphytic roots help the plant live aboveground?Answer: Their spongy tissue absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment.

Based on Biology 2e by Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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