xylem vessels
stele
Water is transported
across the root by two
routes
Apoplast
route
between the cells
via the cell walls
Symplast
route
cell cytoplasm to
cell cytoplasm
Phloem
Xylem vessels
Xylem vessels with different types of lignin strengthening the cell walls
Xylem vessels
no cell contents (dead)
Capillarity
Limitations
1.Water will only rise 50mm
Root Pressure
Water
Cut stump of a
well watered
plant
Mercury
Manometer
Root Pressure
Water is pushed up the xylem by hydrostatic pressure
Mineral salts are pumped into the xylem vessels in the root by the
endodermal cells
Lowering the Potential ( ) in the xylem
Water moves in from the surrounding cells by osmosis
Raising the hydrostatic pressure so pushing water up the xylem
Guttation
Water droplets exude from
the leaves
Cohesion - Tension
+
+
+
+
2400
Transpiration rate
Branch diameter
1200
2400
xylem
water is pulled along the
xylem
water moves into cells down
gradient by osmosis
spongy mesophyll
lower epidermis
cuticle
stoma
Lower pressure/tension
at top of xylem
Questions
1.
2.
(2marks)
Answer Q1
Water is absorbed from the soil by the root hairs
By osmosis down the water potential gradient
The water potential is higher in the epidermal cells than in the
xylem in the root centre
Water moves from cell to cell through the cytoplasm down the
water potential gradient
Water also moves through the fibres of the cell wall and
intercellular spaces
But must go through the endodermal cells due to the Casparian
strip
Any 5 points
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Answer Q2
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Answer Q3
Root pressure is a hydrostatic pressure pushing water up the
xylem
Mineral ions are actively transported out of the endodermal
cells into the xylem vessels
Lowering the water potential in the xylem
So water moves in from the surrounding cells by osmosis /
down the water potential gradient
Raising the hydrostatic pressure
Any three points
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Answer Q4
The pressure measured is not enough to get water to the top of
trees
Only find root pressure in spring
Relies on the use of the plants energy (ATP) for active transport
Any two
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