Activity 17

Root: The External Structure of the Root

The root usually constitutes the underground part of the plant axis. Roots are generally long and
branched and are aggregated in a definite manner to form root systems. Due to their basal position in the
plant body, direct contact with the sol and formation of root systems, roots are able to perform to
important functions, namely anchorage and absorption. Roots also absorb water and minerals from the
soil.

There are different ways of classifying roots. For example, roots may be classified on the basis of origin
into the following:
a. Primary root- the first root formed that is derived from the embryonic root or radicle. The radicle
is the growing tip of the hypocotyl.
b. Secondary roots- the roots that arise from the primary root.
c. Tertiary roots- the roots that arise from secondary roots. Branches of the tertiary roots may be
referred to as rootlets.
d. Adventitious roots – the roots that arise from the structures other than the hypocotyl or mature
roots, such as those that arise from the stems and leaves.

Roots may also be classified to the manner in which they are aggregated. The two kinds of root systems
are as follows:
a. Taproot system- has prominent root from which younger roots of relatively smaller diameter arise
b. Fibrous (diffuse root) system- primary root is lost and is replaced by numerous adventitious roots
called seminal roots arising from the base of the stem. The seminal roots are slender in for and
are more or less of equal size and prominence.

The root may be divided into longitudinal regions. Starting from the tip of the root, the regions are as
follows:
a. Root cap region- a thimble-shaped mass of cells located at the tip of the root that serves as a
protective covering for the growing point of the root as it pushes its way through the soul.
b. Embryonic or meristematic region- the actively dividing region which contains the apical meristem
c. Region of elongation or cell enlargement- the cell in this region increase in size, particularly in length
d. Region of maturation or cell differentiation – it is within this region where the cells are differentiated,
i.e., the cells attain their final structure characteristics and are able to perform their respective
functions

OBJECTIVES
After completion of the lab, students should be able to:
 differentiate different types of root systems in plants
 describe the external parts of a dicot, monocot and fleshy roots
 determine the structure and function of the root hairs

MATERIALS
Root systems of different specimens, petri dish, absorbent paper, hand lens, compound microscope,
palay grains, radish seeds, glass slide, cover slips, razor blade
PROCEDURE
A. Kinds of root systems
1. Examine the root systems of various specimens.
2. Draw and label a taproot system and a fibrous root system.

B. External structure of the root

1. Soak overnight 20 palay grains and 20 radish seeds. Place the soaked grains and seeds in
separate petri dishes lined with moistened absorbent paper. Cover to keep the growth chamber
moist.
2. After 3-5 days, observe the roots with the aid of a hand lens or dissecting microscope.
3. Draw the longitudinal regions of the root in rice and radish seedlings.

C. Root hairs
1. Get a small portion of the radish seedlings where the root hairs are growing.
2. Prepare a fresh mount of the specimen and observe it under the LPO of the microscope.
3. Draw and label the root hair and root cell.
Activity 17
Root: The External Structure of the Root
Name: _____________________________________________ Group Number: ________
Year and Section: _____________________________________ Date Performed: ________

OBSERVATIONS/DISCUSSION
A. Kinds of root systems

Taproot system Fibrous root system

B. External structure of the root

Radish seedling Rice seedling

C. Root hairs

Radish seedling (l.s)

TM =

GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. What kind of rot system is best adapted for anchorage? Why?

2. What kind of root system did you observe in the rice seedlings? the radish seedlings?

3. Explain how monocots and dicots develop different kinds of root systems.

4. Compare the surface area of the epidermal cells which has a root hair and one without. Which of
the two cells has a greater surface area?
Activity 18
Root: The Internal Structure of the Root
A cross section of a young dicot root and monocot root would show the same three regions, namely:
a. Epidermal or dermal region (outer region) represented by the epidermis
b. Ground tissue (middle region) represented by the cortex
c. Stele or vascular cylinder (inner region)

The dermal region consists of the epidermis composed of a single layer of living cells. It may or may
not have root hairs.
The ground tissue is represented by the cortex, which consists of two or three zones. The inner zone
is composed of a single layer of thick-walled living cells called the endodermis. The walls of the
endodermis are impregnated with suberin that forms the Casparian strip. In root sections taken from the
root hair zone, some cells of the endodermis located opposite the xylem are still thin-walled. These are
referred to as passage cells.

The stele is made of the following tissues:

a. Pericycle- consisting of a single layer of thin-walled living cells, which serve as the outermost
part of the stele
b. Primary xylem- consisting mainly of tracheary elements organized in a form of a star. The
direction of development of the cellular elements of the primary xylem is from the outer
potion towards the inside. The outer cells mature first and the inner cells develop later. This
pattern of primary xylem development is called exarch, which is characteristic of roots. The
number of rays of the primary xylem varies. In dicot roots, the number range from two to
five, described as diarch, triarch, tetrarch or pentarch. Monocot roots, however, are described
as polyarch because they have numerous rays in the primary xylem.
c. Primary phloem- consisting of patches of tissues located between the radial arms of the primary
xylem
d. Vascular cambium- a layer of meristematic cells located between the phloem and the xylem.
This is found in dicot roots but is absent in monocot roots.

There are two groups of tissues which enter into the tissue composition of old dicot roots,
namely:
a. Secondary vascular tissues composed of the secondary xylem and secondary phloem
b. Periderm composed of the phellegen (cork cambium), phellem (cork) and phelloderm ( secondary
parenchyma

Once the primary permanent tissues of a young dicot root are differentiated, the vascular
cambium starts to actively give rise to the secondary phloem outwardly and secondary xylem inwardly.
The secondary xylem produced would eventually occupy the places formerly occupied by the primary
phloem, with the latter gradually pushed outwardly. Eventually, a solid cylinder of secondary xylem is
formed, external to which is a cylinder of secondary phloem. Between the secondary xylem and the
secondary phloem is the vascular cambium.

Once the vascular cambium starts producing secondary xylem and secondary phloem, the
pericycle becomes meristematic and gives rise to the cork cambium or phellogen. The cork cambium
produces the phelloderm inwardly and phellem or cork outwardly. Once the cork cambium matures, all
tissues external to it (like the epidermis and cortical tissues) die and are lost. Thus, cork becomes the
outermost tissue of old dicot root.
 Furthermore, due to the expanding diameter of the root mainly brought about by the production
of the secondary xylem and secondary phloem, the original periderm is later on replaced by a succession
of new periderm layers with their corresponding cork cambia originating from the region of secondary
phloem. The cracks and fissures which are present on the surface of old dicot roots represent remnants
of old periderm layers which have cracked up due to the continued expansion of the root.

OBJECTIVES
After completion of the lab, students should be able to:
 identify the internal parts of a typical young dicot and monocot roots
 identify the internal parts of a of an old dicot root

MATERIALS
Compound microscope, prepared slides of the cross section of a young dicot root and a monocot root,
prepared slide of a cross section of an old dicot root

PROCEDURE
A. Young dicot and monocot roots
1. Examine a prepared slide of a cross section of a young dicot root and a monocot root derived
from the root hair zone of primary permanent tissue.
2. Make a diagrammatic drawing of a section of the root and label fully the tissues and the cells
found in the organ.

B. Old dicot root

1. Examine a prepared slide of a cross section of an old dicot root. Note that the sequence of
tissues from the periphery towards the center is as follows:
a. Cork
b. Cork cambium
c. phelloderm
d. Primary phloem (may or may not be present)
e. Secondary phloem
f. Vascular cambium
g. Secondary xylem
h. Primary xylem (may or may not be present)
2. Make a diagrammatic drawing of the cross section of an old dicot root. Label it.
Activity 18
Root: The Internal Structure of the Root
Name: _____________________________________________ Group Number: ________
Year and Section: _____________________________________ Date Performed: ________

OBSERVATIONS/DISCUSSION
A. Young dicot and monocot roots

Young dicot root Young monocot root

TM = TM =

B. Old dicot root

TM =
GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. Why are monocot roots generally slender?

2. What are the major differences between a dicot and a monocot root?

3. Why do all tissues external to the cork ( i.e. the epidermis and cortex ) die and shed off upon the
differentiation of cork cells?
D. Modified/Specialized Stems

Specimen: ___________________ Specimen: ___________________

Modification: ________________ Modification: ________________
Special Function: _____________ Special Function: _____________

Specimen: ___________________ Specimen: ___________________

Modification: ________________ Modification: ________________
Special Function: _____________ Special Function: _____________

Specimen: ___________________ Specimen: ___________________

Modification: ________________ Modification: ________________
Special Function: _____________ Special Function: _____________
 Specimen: ___________________ Specimen: ___________________
Modification: ________________ Modification: ________________
Special Function: _____________ Special Function: _____________

Specimen: ___________________ Specimen: ___________________

Modification: ________________ Modification: ________________
Special Function: _____________ Special Function: _____________

GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. What is apical growth?

2. Why do most monocot stems have narrow stems?

3. How would you explain the increase in diameter but not in height of trees that have been
pruned (the tips of their branches are cut)?
4. What is the significance of modified stems, such as rhizomes and comes, in relation to
the survival of plant?
 Activity No.
STEM: EXTERNAL MORPHOLOHY OF A DICOT STEM

Objective
To identify the external parts of a dicot stem

Materials
Dama de noche (Cestrum nocturnum) or gumamela ( Hibiscus rosa- sinensis)

Procedure
Cut a portion of a dicot stem and label its parts.

Results
Draw a portion of a dicot stem and label its parts.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. What are leaf scars? What are they for?
2. What are the small pores found in the leaf scar? What are they for?

3. What are buds? What are they for? What type of buds is present in your specimen?

4. Compare the external anatomy of a monocot with that of a dicot stem by completing the table
below.
Parts Monocot stem Dicot stem
Nodes
Internodes
Lenticels
Leaf scars
Bundle scars
Buds
 Activity No.
STEM: EXTERNAL MORPHOLOHY OF A MONOCOT STEM

Objective
To identify the external parts of a monocot stem

Materials
Cogon (Imperata cylindrica ) or Chinese bamboo ( Schizostachyum brachycladium)

Procedure
Cut a portion of a monocot stem and label its parts.

Results
Draw a portion of a monocot stem and label its parts.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. What do you call the lower part of the leaf which encloses the part of the stem?

2. Did you find the lenticels? Describe their appearance and functions.
 Activity No.
STEM: INTERNAL MORPHOLOHY OF A DICOT STEM

Objective
To identify the internql parts of an hernaces dicot stem
Materials
Fresh sunflower ( Helianthus anuus) and mayana (Coleus blumei)
Compound microscope, razor blades, slides, and cover slips