Question

Plants absorb minerals salts from the soil solution through

• A. A semipermeable membrane into the cytoplasm
• B. Perforations at the apex of root hair cells
• C. The cell wall which is semipermeable
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

A semipermeable membrane into the cytoplasm

The mineral salts are absorbed into the symplasm, i.e., cytoplasm of root cells. There are special specific mineral transporters present in the plasma membrane of cells, which absorb the minerals from soil solution by transporting them across the membrane from soil solution to the cytoplasm of root cells. This way minerals can be absorbed irrespective of or against the concentration gradient of minerals. The minerals are present in the soil solution at very low concentrations and are usually absorbed against the concentration gradient with the help of specific carriers.