Organs of Water Uptake and Mineral Salts

Function of roots

Provide support & anchor plants in the soil. Absorb water & mineral salts from the soil.

Increases the total surface area of the roots to increase the uptake of water and mineral salts.

Located at the tip of the root. Protects the root from damage when going through the soil.

The function of the root collar

Part of the root connected to the base of the plant stem

Allows water and mineral salts absorbed from the soil to enter the vascular cylinder.

The cells are loosely arranged to facilitate gaseous exchange and most of the cortex consist of parenchyma cells.

Root hair cells are not layered with cuticles

To allow water absorption

Cylinder vascular consists of

Primary xylem, primary phloem & pericycle cells

The direction of root hair cell elongation

To the lateral side from the outer wall

The cortex is made up of thin cells to

facilitate water movement in the root