Outline the pathway taken by water through the root, stem and leaf as: root hair cells, root cortex cells, xylem, mesophyll cells

SouravNovember 14, 2024

Answer

The pathway taken by water through the root, stem, and leaf of a plant can be outlined as follows:

Pathway of Water

1. Root Hair Cells:
   • Water enters the plant primarily through root hair cells, which are specialized extensions of epidermal cells in the root. These cells increase the surface area for absorption and facilitate the uptake of water from the soil via osmosis. The concentration of solutes inside the root hair cells is typically higher than that in the surrounding soil, allowing water to move into the cells.
2. Root Cortex Cells:
   • After entering through the root hair cells, water moves into the root cortex cells. It can travel through these cells via three pathways:
     • Apoplastic pathway (through cell walls),
     • Symplastic pathway (through cytoplasm via plasmodesmata),
     • Transmembrane pathway (across cell membranes).
   • The cortex acts as a storage area and facilitates further movement of water toward the xylem.
3. Xylem:
   • From the root cortex, water then moves into the xylem vessels, which are specialized for transporting water and dissolved minerals upward through the plant. The xylem vessels form a continuous tube that allows for efficient water transport due to their structure, which includes thick walls reinforced with lignin to withstand negative pressure created during transpiration.
4. Leaf Mesophyll Cells:
   • Finally, water travels from the xylem into the leaf mesophyll cells, where it is utilized in photosynthesis and other metabolic processes. The mesophyll cells are located between the upper and lower epidermis of the leaf and contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Water also helps maintain turgor pressure in these cells, supporting leaf structure and function.

Summary

The pathway of water through a plant can be summarized as follows:

• Root Hair Cells → Root Cortex Cells → Xylem → Leaf Mesophyll Cells