Question

Name the pathways involved in transport of water through roots.

Answer 1

Transport of water:

1. It is the process that involves the movement of water to all parts of the plant for its survival.
2. In plants, xylem functions as a conducting tissue for water and minerals from roots to the stem and leaves.

Pathways involved in transport of water through roots:

1. Apoplast pathway:

1. The apoplast is the space outside the plasma membrane within which the material can move freely.
2. In this pathway, water is transported from root hair to xylem through the cell wall of intervening cells.
3. A major quantity of water in the root cortex moves through this pathway as the cells are loosely packed and do not cause any resistance to the movement of water.
4. It is considered as the most efficient way of water transportation.

2. Symplast pathway:

1. The symplast is the inner side of the plasma membrane in which water and lower molecular molecules can diffuse freely.
2. In this pathway, the water moves between cytoplasm of adjacent cells.

3. Vacuolar pathway:

1. It involves movement of water molecules in plant cells through vacuoles located in the cytoplasm of the cell.
2. Water moves by osmosis across the vacuoles of the cells of the root system.