Question

What is the difference between apoplast and symplastic pathway?

Answer 1

Apoplast Pathway:

1. In the apoplast pathway, water moves from root hairs to xylem through intercellular spaces and cell walls.
2. The water movement is carried out through passive diffusion.

Symplast Pathway:

1. In the symplast pathway, water moves from one cell to another through minute space between the cytoplasm of neighboring cells which is called plasmodesmata.
2. The water movement is carried out through osmosis.

Apoplast Pathway	Symplast Pathway
3. In this pathway, water moves from cell to cell through a porous cell wall.	3. In this pathway, water moves from cell to cell through the cytoplasm.
4. Water is transported through passive diffusion.	4. Water is transported through osmosis.
5. Apoplast is faster than the symplast pathway	5. Symplast is slower than the apoplast pathway.