Parts of the root and its functions

As we have just mentioned, The root of the plant meets several functions differentiated, being three main of them: absorption, fixation and driving.

• Absorption It consists of the assimilation of water and nutrients present in the soil by means of the radical or root hairs of the root, which have the ability to absorb the substances that the plant needs. We also recommend knowing everything about the nutrition of plants with this other article.
• Fixing It is carried out by the entire root organ and it is simply to offer a firm anchor to the plant on the surface in which it is located. Usually this anchor will be done on land or substrate, although some plants are fixed to other surfaces such as rocks or even other plants. The larger plants, such as high -height trees, need deep and wide root systems to provide sufficient stability.
• Drivingwhich is about the transport of water and minerals from the root hairs to the stem, which will take them where they are necessary.

The root structure It includes different general parts, easy to differentiate:

• Neck: To begin with, the part immediately buried under ground level is called neck and is responsible for connecting the rest of the root system with the stem.
• Ramification zone: After the neck we find the branch zone. It is located between the neck and the pilipfera, and is characterized by being the area where the roots branch and create secondary roots with which to increase the land they cover.
• Pilipa zone: It is located in the youngest areas of the root. In it are the absorbent hairs that are responsible for absorbing water and minerals. These have a life of up to three weeks and consist of a single cell. They are constantly formed at the end of the root, so those farthest from the end are longer. They can be arranged in a density of up to 2,000 hairs per cm2 and measure up to 1500 micrometers in length.
• MERISTEM: Then to the Pilipa zone, we find the meristem or cell division zone, which is where the growth of the root itself occurs.
• Caliptra: Finally, cofia is the end of the root. It is a kind of soft coverage, whose function is to protect the root while it makes its way through the subsoil. Its botanical name is Caliptra, and it is very difficult to differentiate with the naked eye. It is around the meristematic tissue, which is growing, mechanically protecting it from the friction and damage that the subsoil could cause. Because of the wear and tear, caused by friction between the root and the ground, their cells are constantly destroyed, but are replaced at the same pace by those produced in the area of ​​cell division or meristem.

In the cover scheme you can see these parts of the well -differentiated roots well. These are the most general parts of the root, but in a more specific sense, the parts of this differ in another way, more specifically, according to the Types of root tissues:

• Epidermis: It is the most superficial layer of the root: its skin, as the name suggests. Their cells produce the root hairs responsible for the absorption of water and minerals.
• Cortex: It is the layer following the epidermis. It is located under this and its most remarkable goal is to store nutrients in the form of starch. In addition, among their cells there are spaces that allow their airing, and therefore breathing.
• Endodermis: In the most internal layer of the cortex and around the vascular tissue we find the endodermis. In it there is a substance called suberina, which allows the formation of the Caspari band, a kind of waterproof barrier. Thanks to this, water flows only inward.
• Vascular cylinder: Finally, in the center is the wake or vascular cylinder, with the xylem and the phloem adopting different distributions in it according to the characteristics of the concrete type of plant.

In this scheme below you can see these fabrics well from the roots. In addition, we encourage you to learn more about the types of plant tissues with this other article.

In addition to the three basic functions of the roots, there are others Types of roots They fulfill additional or specialized functions.

• The root tubers create thickened areas that function as Food Reservestoring in them a lot of reserve nutrients.
• Others are capable of releasing certain substances on the groundeither to eliminate competition from other plants or to help in the soil dissolution process, making it more fertile and rich.
• Finally, some plants have the ability to develop a type of communication network under the ground Among its roots. Thanks to her, they can share nutrients when a weak or sick individual needs them.

Expand this knowledge with this other post about roots types.

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