Roots: Types and Functions

ROOTS: TYPES AND FUNCTIONS

Roots: types and functions. Evolution over billions of years has produced the plants we see today. Nowadays, plants make up half of the plant’s productivity (biomass generation) and nearly 30% of the landmass. In the ecosystem, plants provide a variety of purposes. In addition to providing food, nourishment, and shelter, they also preserve the integrity of the soil by halting erosion, and above all they are the primary source of atmospheric oxygen balance.

ROOTS: TYPES AND FUNCTIONS

Plants are extremely complicated anatomically, and they are divided into many categories according to their identifying traits. Contrary to popular opinion, not all plants have roots, despite the fact that they are extremely important structures that serve a number of purposes. Plants such as liverworts and mosses do not have roots. The essential subterranean component of all vascular plants is their roots. This part of a plant is primarily in charge of securing it to the ground and drawing water, nutrients, and vital mineral elements from the soil. Food is also stored there.

Types

Press the Root System button

Small lateral roots known as root hairs are linked to the main central root of taproots. Examples of taproot systems include mustard, carrot, beetroot, parsley, china rose, and every dicotyledon.

System of Fibrous Roots

Conversely, fibrous roots are bushy roots that emerge from the stem with thin, somewhat branched roots. All monocotyledons, including rice, wheat, maize, marigolds, and bananas, are examples of fibrous root systems.

Unexpected Roots

One special kind of root that emerges from sources other than the radicle is called an adventitious root. Plants with this specific type of root system will also have primary roots. Angiosperms are known for their adventitious root systems, which are changed for a variety of uses, including support, respiration, and food storage. The primary distinction between adventitious roots and tap roots is that the latter do not pierce the soil as deeply as the former.

Functions of Root

These are some of the key roles that roots play: Numerous tasks carried out by roots are essential to the plants’ survival. They are an integrated system that aids the plant in the following ways:

Anchoring Plants

stay rooted to the earth because of their roots. They keep the plant body upright by providing support. Intake The roots’ main job is to take up water and minerals that have dissolved in the soil. This is important because it facilitates photosynthesis. Keeping The leaves, branches, and roots of plants store and prepare food in the form of starch. Beetroot, radish, carrots, and so forth are notable examples.

Reproduction

Although roots are vegetative components of plants, they are not the reproductive organs. The roots of certain plants are used for reproduction. For example, in grass, jasmine, etc., creeping horizontal stems known as runners give rise to new plants. vegetative propagation is the term for this kind of reproduction. Ecological Function: They prevent soil erosion and give different organisms food and habitat.

Summary

However, some plants have roots that grow above ground, while others have roots that are subterranean. We refer to these as aerial roots. Similar to subsurface roots, these aerial roots are in charge of receiving nutrients and attaching the plant to neighboring walls, rocks, trellises, and other structures. A few examples of plants that have aerial roots are mangroves, bonsai, and banyan trees.