Question

What is apoplast and symplast?

Answer 1

Apoplast

1. The non living areas between the cells and the cell membranes are referred to as apoplast.
2. Outside of the plasma membrane, the apoplast is made up of intercellular gap where material can easily diffuse.
3. It affects the non-living elements of the plant, cell wall and intercellular gaps, rather than protoplasm in plant tissues.
4. Water is carried from root here to xylem through cell wall of adjacent cells in the apoplast root.
5. The apoplastic pathway is least affected by the roots metabolic status because the apoplast is made up of non-living components.

Symplast

1. The live zone between two cells that connect one cell to the other is known as the symplast.
2. Every plant cell's cytoplasmic network is joined by plasmodesmata to form symplast.
3. Because symplast lacks intercellular gaps and cell walls, it is regarded as the entire live component of plant tissue.
4. Because the selective plasma membrane of the root cells manage the intake of ions and water, symplast pathway provides resistance to water.
5. The root's metabolic status has an impact on the symplastic pathway.