The Formation of Foliar Roots

Typically, the root of a plant is a vascular organ that absorbs water and minerals. It also anchors the plant in the soil, providing a storage area. A plant can have many different types of roots. Some roots are aerial, and others are buried in the soil. These root types differ from each other in their function.

Aerial roots are generally found in the top 30 cm of the soil. They absorb water and minerals, anchor the plant, and transport reserve foods. They are usually only found in certain species. The root also acts as an anchor for the plant, which helps the plant survive if it gets blown over. The root can extend as deep as one to two meters. The root also absorbs minerals and dissolved substances from the soil and delivers them to the stem. The root can also serve as food storage for some plants.

The root has three main sections, which are the cortex, epidermis, and stele. Each section is composed of parenchymatous cells. These cells are separated from each other by a ring of cortex. A casparian strip forms a barrier at the interface between the cortex and stele. In some plants, the stele is surrounded by a sclerenchymatous band that gives the root considerable mechanical strength.

The primary root is the first organ to appear on a seed. It grows downward and anchors the seedling. The primary root then produces two to three new stems. In gymnosperms, the primary root becomes a taproot. The root is anchored at the root cap, which protects the growing tip when the plant is in the soil. In some plants, the root cap is formed by adding some apical meristem cells.

The root hairs are tubular extensions of the epidermal cell wall. In some plants, the root hairs serve as an oxygen intake for the primary root system. In some plants, they form an intricate association with mycorrhizal soil fungi. They can also help to aerate the soil. The root hairs may not be visible because they are covered by the epidermis. Usually, the epidermis is just one cell layer thick.

The root hairs are usually found in the region of maturation. In wheat, the mesocotyl is not elongated. However, the middle layers of the mesophyll cells have a lobed shape. These cells also resemble armed palisade cells. They are also found in the elongation zone. These cells are adapted to the nutrient utilization.

A root can also develop a thick band of sclerenchymatous tissue beneath the epidermis. It also functions as an oxygen intake for the submerged primary root system. The stele is composed of alternate bands of xylem and phloem. The secondary vascular tissues also push the pericycle outward. In some plants, the stele has a central metaxylem vessel. These secondary tissues also lead to an increase in the girth of the plant.

The mesophyll cell has a lobed shape with a complex inner wall. The cell has thin walls and a permeable membrane. The membrane is also permeable to some dissolved substances.