Root and Shoot Studies 1
Plant belongs to kingdom
Plantae is having a simple body consisting of the underground root system and
the above ground shoot system (Fig 1).
The Root
·
Root is the underground part of the plant.
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The main functions of the root system are absorption of water and
minerals from the soil, providing a proper anchorage to the plant parts, storing reserve food material and synthesis of plant growth regulators like
cytokines. Roots penetrate, bind, and stabilize the
soil, helping to prevent soil erosion. Roots also stimulate the growth of soil micro- and
macro-organisms, compact the soil, alter soil chemistry, through their secretions and add organic
material upon their death.
·
In majority of the dicotyledonous plants, the direct elongation of
the radicle leads to
the formation of primary root which grows inside the soil. It bears lateral
roots of several orders that are referred to as secondary roots, tertiary roots
etc. The primary roots and its branches constitute the tap root system, as seen in fig 1.
·
In monocotyledonous , the primary root is short lived and replaced by a large number of roots. These roots originate from the base of the
stem and constitute the fibrous
root system, as seen in the wheat plant.
·
In some plants, like grass, Monstera and the banyan tree, roots arise
from parts of the plant other than the radicle and are called adventitious roots.