Being underground and remaining absolutely invisible, the root forms entire systems that are directly dependent on the environment. If necessary, the type can be modified to provide the plant with everything necessary for growth and development.
The root and its meaning
The root is the underground part of the plant. It securely holds the shoot in the ground. The length of the trunk of some trees can be several tens of meters, but even strong gusts of wind are not terrible.
The main function of the root is to absorb and transport water with nutrients dissolved in it. This is the only way to get the required amount of moisture into the plant.
Types of roots
Three types of roots are distinguished by structural features.
The main root of a plant is always the same. In gymnosperms and angiosperms, it develops from the germinal root of the seed. It has lateral roots. They increase the absorbent surface area, allowing the plant to absorb the most water.
Adventitious roots extend directly from the shoot. There are a lot of them, they grow in a bunch. All types of roots haveidentical features of the internal structure. This element of the plant consists of tissues. The integument forms a root cap, which protects the educational cells of the division zone from death. The elongation zone also consists of young, constantly dividing cells. Elements of conductive tissue and mechanical are in the zone of absorption and conduction. They make up the bulk of any kind of roots.
To provide the plant with the necessary amount of water, only one root is not enough for it. Therefore, different types of roots are combined to form systems.
Tap and fibrous root system
The fibrous system is represented by adventitious roots. They are typical for representatives of the Monocotyledonous class - the Cereal, Liliaceae and Onion families. Anyone who has tried to pull a wheat shoot out of the ground knows that this is quite difficult to do. The bundle of adventitious roots grows strongly, occupies a large area, providing the plant with the necessary amount of nutrients. Bulbs of garlic or leek, being a modification of the shoot, also have developed adventitious roots, united in a fibrous root system.
Consider the following type. The tap root system consists of two types of roots: main and lateral. The only main root is the stem and explains the name of this plant organ. It can penetrate deep into the soil, not only reliably holding its owner, but also extracting scarce moisture from the lower layers of the soil. A few tens of meters is not an obstacle for him.
The tap root system is characteristic of most angiosperms, as it is universal. The main root draws water from the depths, the lateral roots draw water from the topsoil.
Benefits
Tap root system is typical for plants growing in conditions of moisture deficiency. If there is no rain, the upper layers of the soil are dry, water can only be obtained deep from the ground. This function is performed by the main root. The tap root system is sometimes longer than the shoot itself. For example, a camel thorn about 30 cm high has a root more than 20 m long.
Lateral roots are also important. They increase the suction surface, sometimes taking up a significant area.
Which plants do not have a tap root system? Those that live in conditions of excessive moisture. Such plants simply do not need to get water from the depths. However, the taproot system is significantly inferior to the fibrous root system in terms of the total length of the roots.
Root modifications
The core root system, the structure of which fully corresponds to the functions performed, is sometimes modified. The well-known carrot roots are thickened main roots. They store water and nutrients that allow plants to survive adverse environmental conditions. Such a modified tap root system is also characteristic of beets, radishes, radishes, and parsley.
Root crops are especially common in perennial and biennial plants. So, having sown carrot seeds in the spring, you can already get a harvest in the fall. But if the plant is left in the ground for the winter, then in the spring it will sprout again and give seeds. In a cold winter, carrots survive due to the thickened main root - the root crop. It allows you to hold out on supplies until the onset of heat.
The type of plant root system depends on the conditions in which it grows, and the characteristic features of the structure provide vital processes and increase the chances of survival in any climate and with any available amount of moisture and nutrients.
