- Biology Notes for UPSC IAS Prelims (Part II)
- Biology - Home
- Biology - Classification of Organisms
- Biology - Cell Division
- Biology - Virus
- Biology - Bacteria
- Biology - Fungi
- Biology - The Roots
- Biology - The Plant Stem
- Biology - The Plant Leaf
- Biology - The Flowers
- Biology - The Fruit
- Biology - Plant Diseases
- Biology - The Blood
- Biology - Blood Group
- Biology - Human Brain
- Biology - Skeleton System
- Biology - Endocrine System
- Biology - Endocrine Diseases
- Biology - Carbohydrate
- Biology - Proteins
- Biology - Fats
- Biology - Vitamins
- Biology - Minerals
- Biology - Genetic Terminology
- Organisms & their Chromosome Counts
- Biology - Viral Diseases
- Biology - Bacterial Diseases
- Branches of Biology
- Inventions & Discoveries in Biology
- Nobel Prize in Biology
Biology - The Roots
Introduction
Root is the most essential part of a plant that grows down to the soil and water.
Root avoid the sunlight, as it grows down to soil and water, and absorbs mineral salt and water from the soil.
However, some typical roots are also aerial or aerating, that grow up above the ground or especially above the water.
Roots do not have leaves, buds, and nodes.
Functions of the Roots
The roots absorb mineral salts and water from the soil then supply them to other parts of the plants.
Roots provide foundation to plants and keep them static.
Some roots absorb foods for the contingency period; e.g. radish, carrot, etc.
Types of Roots
Primarily, roots are classified as −
Tap Root
Fibrous Root
Adventitious Root
Let’s discuss them in brief −
Tap Root
There is a main root (see the image given below) that grows faster and it has many branches. Usually, it occurs in dicotyledon plants.
Fibrous Roots
There is as such no primary root rather there are numerous roots of similar shape, thickness, and size.
It is typical feature of monocots (plant).
Adventitious Root
A typical root that grows from any part of a plant except the primary root part.
Adventitious root may be underground or may aerial.
Modified Taproots
The following table illustrates some typical examples of modified taproots −
Taproots | Examples |
---|---|
Conical shape | Carrot |
Napiform | Beet root |
Fusiform | Radish |
Pneumatophores | Sundari plants |
Pneumatophores | Sundari plants |
Modified Adventitious Roots
The following table illustrates some typical examples of modified adventitious roots −
Adventitious Roots | Examples |
---|---|
Aerial root | Orcede |
Parasitic root | Kascutta |
Moniliform root | Grapes |
Prop root | Banyan tree |
Stilt root | Sugarcane, maize, etc. |
Note − Tuber is a stem that grow horizontally under the soil and develop roots on their lower surfaces. Major function of this swollen stem is to store food and nutrients. E.g. potato, onion, etc.