Roots

In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. However, roots can also be aerialor aerating (growing up above the ground or especially above water). Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either (see rhizome).Therefore, the root is best defined as the non-leaf, non-nodes bearing parts of the plant's body. However, important internal structural differences between stems and roots exist.

The first root that comes from a plant is called the radicle. The four major functions of roots are 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients, 2) anchoring of the plant body to the ground, and supporting it, 3) storage of food and nutrients, 4) vegetative reproduction. In response to the concentration of nutrients, roots also synthesise cytokinin, which acts as a signal as to how fast the shoots can grow. Roots often function in storage of food and nutrients. The roots of most vascular plant species enter into symbiosis with certain fungi to form mycorrhizae, and a large range of other organisms including bacteria also closely associate with roots.

Parts of a Root






 Root Hairs 

The root hairs are thin, hairlike outgrowths of a root. 
The root hairs absorb water and minerals from the soil.

 Root Caps

 The root caps are groups of tiny cells 

which grow at the tips of roots.

Root caps are spherical in shape.

The root caps help to protect the root

tip from the roughness of the soil as

roots grow in search of water.

                                                                           Primary Root

The primary root is the largest part of

the root. The primary root is usually

located directly below the main stem

of the plant. The primary root is the

main path from the smaller roots to

the stem. Sometimes the primary

root stores food for the plant.

   Secondary Root

 

The secondary roots are roots which

branch off from the primary root.

Secondary roots grow down at an angle.

Secondary roots serve as a pathway

for food and water from the root 

hairs to the primary root.