Biology: Plant Root Systems

Plants are found in every small space where land is located and are a big player in the ecosystem. Plants for a billion years have served as a source of food, nutrition, shelter, and to prevent soil erosion. Plants help in balancing oxygen levels in the atmosphere as they make use of the CO2 in the air.

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Roots are a feature of a plant that is used to classify different plants even with the fact that some plants do not have roots. Mosses and liverwort do not have roots, but they all fall under the plant's kingdom. Roots can be classified in structure and functionality.

What are Roots?

Roots are parts of vascular plants located within the ground that grow downward. This part of the plant help in anchoring, and absorbing nutrients and water from the soil. It also functions as a storage for food in plants. As I said, Roots are underground, and some grow above the ground. The roots above the ground are called aerial roots, just like underground roots. They are also responsible for absorbing nutrients and anchoring and supporting in case of a nearby wall, rocks, etc. Examples of aerial roots are Bonsai, Banyan trees, Mangroves, etc.

Types of Roots

All the different roots are similar in functions and vary in structure based on the criteria and root system.

• TapRoot System

Tap roots have a main root with small lateral roots like hair attached to the main root. Examples are Carrot, BeetRoot, Mustard, etc. All dicotyledon plants are perfect examples of tap root systems.

• Fibrous Root System

Fibrous Roots are hairy in structure and grown directly from the stem of the plant. Examples are Mazize, Marigold, Banana, etc. All monocotyledon plants are perfect examples of fibrous root systems.

Functions of Root

Roots have a good number of functions that they offer to plants, which in turn has helped for the survival of the plant.

Absorbing: This is the act of absorbing water and dissolved minerals from the soil, which are necessary for the plant. The water absorbed is needed for the process of photosynthesis.

Anchoring: Roots help plants to be able to stand tall from the ground. They help in support and standing erect from the ground.

Storage: The food prepared in the form of starch in plants, is stored in leaves, stems, and roots.

Reproduction: Some roots are used as a seed to grow new plants. This method is known as vegetative propagation.

Ecological Function: Roots help in preventing soil erosion and provide a home to some living organisms.

To conclude, Roots are essential parts of plants. The plant needs them for anchorage, absorption, etc. Roots can be used by scientists for communication, for example, if no water is absorbed and the plant will die off. Here scientists will understand the land lacks water or some other nutrient needed for plant growth.

Thanks for reading.