A taproot is when there is one main root that grows straight down deep into the

soil. It only has very few lateral roots that develop and grow off this main root.
The taproot is a feature of plants that are known as dicotyledons and it is also
found in the plants known as gymnosperms. The taproot is further differentiation
of the primary root. The primary root is formed from the radicle of the seedling
during development of the seed. In the taproot system the main root is the largest
and longest, and lateral roots are smaller and shorter. A few side roots that are
known as lateral roots form from the main root. A taproot penetrates deep into
the soil and in some cases can form a storage organ for food, for instance: carrots,
radish, beetroot and turnips. Advantages of a taproot include the fact that they do
penetrate deep into the soil and so can locate water and minerals deep
underground, the mesquite plant for instance has roots that can penetrate up to
150 ft. deep in search of water. It is thus very drought tolerant. The taproot is also
good at anchoring the plant into the soil so preventing them from being blown
over in windy environments. Certain weeds such as Dandelion are difficult to pull
out because of the taproot. A further advantage is that they can form, in some
cases, storage organs, storing food such as starch or sugars, for the plant.

A fibrous root is a root that consists of groups of roots of similar size and length.
They do not penetrate as deeply into the soil as does a taproot. The fibrous root
is a feature of plants that are monocotyledons. Unlike the tap root, the primary
root produced during development does not remain, and instead roots, known as
adventitious roots, are produced from the stem of the plant. All these roots
forming the fibrous root collectively are of equal size and length.
A fibrous root system does not penetrate deeply into the soil but rather creates a
thick network of roots that are good at holding the soil together. Many types of
grasses have fibrous roots, including plants related to grass such as corn.
Advantages of fibrous root systems include that they allow the plant to absorb
water and minerals over a large surface area closer to the surface of the soil. They
are also useful in helping prevent or reduce soil erosion since these root systems
help hold the soil particles together.

Difference between Taproot and Fibrous root

1. Taproot consists of one large long root, while this is not the case
for the fibrous root.
2. Taproot penetrates deep into the soil, while a fibrous root is
shallow and does not penetrate as deeply.
3. A taproot is the differentiated primary root of the plant, while
the fibrous root is not the differentiated primary root of the
plant.
4. In the fibrous root system the primary root is eliminated, this is
not the case in the taproot system.
5. The fibrous root develops from the stem; this is not the case for
the taproot.
6. The taproot has a few lateral roots that develop from the
taproot; this is not the case for the fibrous root.
7. Taproot is found in dicots, while a fibrous root is found in
monocots.
8. Fibrous root is found in most grasses, while taproot is not
found in most grasses.
9. Taproot occurs in gymnosperms, while fibrous root does not
occur in the gymnosperms.
10. A taproot can sometimes act as a storage organ for food,
while fibrous roots cannot store food.
11. Fibrous root holds many soil particles together at the
surface of the soil; this is not the case with the taproot.
12. The taproot can reach water deep beneath the surface of
the soil; this is not the case for the fibrous root.

prop root Any of the modified roots that arise from the stem of certain plants and
provide extra support. Such stems are usually tall and slender and the prop roots
develop at successively higher levels as the stem elongates, as in the maize
plant. Buttress roots, which develop at the base of the trunks of many tropical
trees, are similar but tend to have a more flattened appearance. Stilt roots are
stouter than prop roots. Those formed at the base of the mangrove tree provide
firm anchorage in the soft mud of the swamps.

The main root (primary root) with other minor side roots, which grow deep into
the soil is called Taproot. While the fine, thick hairs like structure, that spread
sideways in all the directions is called Fibrous or Adventitious root.
Taproot arises from the radicle (embryonic part) of the plants, but the Fibrous
root grows from the stem and leaves rather from the radicle.

Prop roots are adventitious in nature, and are also called as Pillar roots. These are
thick aerial roots growing from horizontal branches and provide support like
pillars.