Root

Plant organ which lies below the soil surface is called root. Roots help in holding the plant firmly in the soil. They are said to anchor the plant to the soil. Root absorbs minerals and nutrients from the soil necessary for the plant.

Plants have 3 types of root systems: Taproot, Fibrous root, Adventitious root. The root is considered to be the most important part of the plant as it helps in conduction and transportation of materials. It also anchors the plant in the ground.

Activity:

To show roots are important.

Apparatus required: take 2 pots, soil, scissors, water.

1. Select the 2 plants of the same kind and dig them out the ground with roots.

2. Place one in the pot (a) with roots and the other in a pot (b) without roots Observe it after a week or so, do both remain healthy? Only a remains healthy as conduction is done by roots and whereas die as it could not conduct water due to the absence of roots.

Activity: 

To study the function of the root.

1. seeds of gram and maize cotton wool bowl and water Take 2 bowels to place some wet cotton in each and put 3-4 seeds of Gramin one and maize in other.

2. Keep sprinkling water every day until the sprouts have grown into young plants.

3. After a week you try to take out seeds from the bowel.

4. They anchor firmly illustrating that roots hold the plant firmly in the soil. As seen in the activity does both the roots look similar not exactly.

 Gramin                         maize

This diagram shows that there are different types of roots present in different plants. Root tips develop into 2 main roots: i) Taproot  ii) Fibrous root   

i) Taproot:

a) The main root grows down vertically, from which small root branch up known as lateral roots.

b) e.g:beans,grams(Dicots).

c) It penetrates deep into the soil.

ii) Fibrous root:

a) Do not have any main root all roots seem to be similar.

b) e.g: maize, rice grass ( monocots).

c) The root is spread closer to the soil surface where it forms a dense network that prevents soil erosion.

plants in dry areas have a combination of both root systems. plants in marshy areas have a shallower root system. To know the type of root system we need not pull out a plant we can just simply say seeing leaf venation. If the network of veins is seen on a leaf then they bear tap root. If a parallel vein running then it has a fibrous root system.

Types of the root system:

Taproot:

The main root which is larger and fast-growing is called taproot and the branched smaller roots are called the lateral root. For example: Beetroot, Carrot, Sugar beet, Radish, etc.

Fibrous root:

No main root, all the roots are of the same size. For example: Coconut palm, Onion, Grass, spring onion, etc.

Adventitious root:

The root that forms on any part of a plant other than the actual root area.

Taproot        Fibrous root