How do plants absorb water?

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) $\Rightarrow$ Importance of roots in absorption: Roots absorb most of the water that goes into plants. The responsibility of absorption of water and minerals is more specifically the function of the root hairs.
$\Rightarrow$ Root hairs are present at the tips of the roots. Root hairs are thin-walled,slender extensions of root epidermal cells that greatly increase the surface area for absorption.
$\Rightarrow$ Water is absorbed along with mineral solutes by the root hairs,purely by diffusion.
$\Rightarrow$ Once water is absorbed by the root hairs,it can move deeper into root layers by two distinct pathways:
$(1)$ Apoplast Pathway
$(2)$ Symplast Pathway
$\Rightarrow$ Apoplast Pathway: The apoplast is the system of adjacent cell walls that is continuous throughout the plant,except at the Casparian strips of the endodermis in the roots.
$\Rightarrow$ The apoplastic movement of water occurs exclusively through the intercellular spaces and the walls of the cells. It does not involve crossing the cell membrane and is dependent on the gradient. It does not provide any barrier to water movement,and water movement is through mass flow due to the adhesive and cohesive properties of water.
$\Rightarrow$ Symplast Pathway: The symplastic system is the system of interconnected protoplasts. Neighbouring cells are connected through cytoplasmic strands that extend through plasmodesmata.
$\Rightarrow$ Water has to enter the cells through the cell membrane,hence the movement is relatively slower and occurs down a potential gradient. Symplastic movement may be aided by cytoplasmic streaming.

Explore More

Similar Questions

Root pressure theory was proposed by . . . . . . .

The path of water movement from soil to xylem is:

Explain the cohesion-tension-transpiration pull model of water transport.

Which of the following theories is primarily proposed to explain the upward movement of water from roots to the shoot?

The chief role of transpiration in plants is to cause

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo