LO 1.2 - Roots

Question 1

Question

What are the Key functions of Roots?

Name 4 things.

Roots

Answer 1

1. Anchorage
2. Absorption
3. Storage
4. Growth

Roots

Question 2

Question

What is Anchorage?

Roots

Answer 2

Roots anchor plants firmly in the ground and provide support for vertical growth.

Roots

Question 3

Question

What is Absorption?

Roots

Answer 3

Water and nutrients such as minerals are absorbed by roots and transported through the plant to the locations where they are needed.

Roots

Question 4

Question

What is Storage?

Roots

Answer 4

Many plant species use roots as a storage organ, primarily for carbohydrates.

Roots

Question 5

Question

What is Growth?

Roots

Answer 5

Dividing cells in the root cap are responsible for the elongation of root.

(Primary growth)

Roots

Question 6

Question

What are some secondary functions of Roots?

4 things

Roots

Answer 6

1. Prevent soil erosion.
2. Mechanical support.
3. Climbing.
4. Nitrogen Fixation.

Roots

Question 7

Question

How do roots prevent soil erosion?

Roots

Answer 7

Prevent soil erosion – roots help hold the soil matrix firmly.

Roots

Question 8

Question

How do roots give mechanical support?

Roots

Answer 8

Mechanical support - Roots can provide stability to the plant.
Eg, In Maize and sugarcane stilt roots developed on the lower part of node which provide mechanical support to the plant.

Roots

Question 9

Question

How do roots help in climbing?

Roots

Answer 9

Climbing – roots can help weak stemmed plants to cling and climb. Example Ivy

Roots

Question 10

Question

What is Adventitious Root?

Define it, remember it.

Roots

Answer 10

Adventitious root
Roots that grow from the stem base / also formed on cuttings.

They do not develop from the radical of the seed.

Roots

Question 11

Question

What are Fibrous roots?

Define it, remember it.

Roots

Answer 11

Fibrous roots

Are a fine network of branching roots.

Roots

Question 12

Question

What are Lateral roots?

Define it, remember it.

Roots

Answer 12

Lateral roots

Grow out at right angles from parent root.

Roots

Question 13

Question

What is the Primary root?

Define it, remember it.

Roots

Answer 13

Primary root

First roots that grow from the seed.

Roots

Question 14

Question

What are Root hairs?

Define it, remember it.

Roots

Answer 14

Root hairs

Single celled ext of the epidermal cells, close to the growing root tip.

Roots

Question 15

Video

Root hairs in detail.

1 minute watch.

Answer 15

Root Hairs
* Root hairs exist so plants can take up more water/minerals .
* They consist of a nucleus, large vacuole, cytoplasm and mitochondria.
* No chloroplast – So no photosynthesis takes place in the roots.

Root hairs video

Click for a 1 minute watch.

Question 16

Question

What are Tap roots?

Define it, remember it.

Roots

Answer 16

Tap root
* Where a plant has just one large fleshy root that is significantly larger than any lateral roots.

Roots

Question 17

Info Graphic

Adventitious Roots

This example in Strawberries.

Roots

Answer 17

Adventitious Roots

In Strawberries.

Roots

Question 18

Info Graphic

Tap Roots vs Adventitious Roots

Comparing Tap to Adventitious roots.

Roots

Answer 18

Tap Roots vs Adventitious Roots

Comparing Tap to Adventitious Roots.

Roots

Question 19

Question

Stolons are not part of the root system.
So what are Stolons?

Roots

Answer 19

Stolons
* Are horizontal connections between organisms.
* They are a **stem NOT a root **that produce nodes from which new plants form.

Example in Strawberries, Runners are Stolons.

Roots

Question 20

Info Graphic

Stilt Roots on Maize

Answer 20

Stilt Roots on Maize

Question 21

Info Graphic

Tuberous Roots

Roots

Answer 21

Tuberous Roots

Roots

Question 22

Question

What are Tuberous Roots?

Roots

Answer 22

Tuberous root
Is an enlarged fleshy root modified as a storage organ with shoots produced at one end and roots produced at the other.

Roots

Question 23

Info Graphic

Don’t confuse Tuberous roots with other Storage Roots.

Roots

Answer 23

Potatoes and Dahlia’s are Tuberous
Bulbs, Carrots, Onions and Beetroot are not.

Roots

Question 24

Question

What are Aerial Roots?

Roots

Answer 24

Aerial roots are roots that are above ground. They are grown for support. Ivy plants have them to cling to structures, such as stone walls, or other trees.

Aerial Roots

Roots

Question 25

What are the functions of these roots? ## Footnote Roots

Answer 25

Storage. ## Footnote Roots

Question 26

# Study card. Rootcap | Reveal for 5 bullet points. ## Footnote Roots

Answer 26

Rootcap * At the tip of every growing root is tissue called the root cap. * It is not visible to the naked eye. * It consists of tissue (parenchyma) with unthickened walls covering the apical meristem. * The root cap provides protection to the meristem cells as the root goes through the soil. * Cells can ware away but are quickly replaced by new cells generated by cell division within the meristem. ## Footnote Roots

Question 27

# Study Card Root Epidermis | Reveal for 5 bullet points. ## Footnote Roots

Answer 27

Root Epidermis * The root hairs of the epidermal cells increase the surface area through which movement of materials can occur. * The thread like hairs are simply enlargements of the protoplast that extend outward into the soil. * They have little wall material and are extremely fragile and easily broken. * **It is the outer layer and it forms a boundary between the plant and the environment.** * It protects against water loss, regulates gas exchange, absorbs water and minerals. ## Footnote Roots

Question 28

# Study Card Cortex | Reveal for 4 bullet points. ## Footnote Roots

Answer 28

Cortex * Made of parenchyma cells. * Is the largest part of the primary root. * Three layers of cortex are recognized: the **hypodermis** (also called exodermis), the **endodermis** and, between them, the **storage parenchyma**. * **Its function is transportation of material and also may be used as a food store**. ## Footnote Roots

Question 29

# Study Card Stele | Reveal for 3 bullet points. ## Footnote Roots

Answer 29

Stele * The stele includes all of the tissues within the cortex. * The pericycle - a cylinder of parenchyma. * The vascular tissues—xylem and phloem on the inside in the roots. ## Footnote Roots

Question 30

# Podcast Smarty Plants: How clever are plants? | 36 minute listen ## Footnote Roots

Answer 30

Listen to the podcast. 36 minutes. | [Smarty Plants](https://radiolab.org/episodes/smarty-plants) ## Footnote Roots