Absorption by roots

Definitions
Imbibition: process by which a living or dead plant cell absorb water by surface attraction (due to presence of
hydrophilic cellulose in cell wall of plant cells)
Diffusion: free movement of molecules (solute, solvent, liquid, gas) from a region of their higher concentration
to a region of their lower concentration when in direct contact
Osmosis: Movement of water molecules from a region of their higher concentration to a region of their lower
concentration through a semi permeable membrane (or from dilute solution to concentrated solution or from
region of lower solute to region of higher solute concentration)
Osmotic pressure: Minimum pressure needed to prevent passage of pure solvent to a solution when two are
separated by a semi permeable membrane
Or Osmotic pressure of a solution is measure of its tendency to take in water by osmosis
(Higher concentrated solution means higher intake of water into the solution or higher osmotic pressure. So
higher is the concentration of a solution higher will be its osmotic pressure)
Tonicity: Relative concentration of a solution which determines the extent and direction of diffusion
Active transport: Passage of a substance from a region of their lower concentration to a region of their higher
concentration through a living cell membrane using energy from the cell
Turgidity: state of a cell in which the cell wall is stretched and rigid due to increase in volume of vacuoles due
to absorption of water.
(When a cell reaches a condition when it cannot accommodate any more water (fully distended state) cell is
called as turgid and the condition is called as turgidity. Cell will become turgid when placed in a hypotonic
solution/ dilute solution or pure water)
Plasmolysis: contraction of cytoplasm and cell membrane from the cell wall when placed in a hypertonic
solution due to withdrawal of water
Flaccidity: is the condition in which cell contents are shrunken and the cell is no more turgid. (Cell is called as
flaccid or plasmolysed)
(Turgidity, plasmolysis, flaccidity are phenomenon cause due to rigidity of plant cell wall)
Root pressure: pressure developed in roots due to continuous inward movement of water by cell to cell
osmosis
(Imbibition, Diffusion, Active transport, Tonicity definitions to be done in copy)

Name the following

1. Process by which molecules distribute themselves evenly within the space they occupy: Diffusion
2. Process by which water enter root hairs from soil: endosmosis
3. Process which is opposite of diffusion: Active transport
4. Process which is same as diffusion: Passive transport
5. Condition opposite of turgidity: Flaccidity
6. Condition of a cell caused due to plasmolysis: Flaccidity
7. Condition opposite of plasmolysis or reversal of plasmolysis: Deplasmolysis
8. Pressure under which water passes from living cells of a root into xylem: Root pressure
9. An instrument used to measure root pressure: Manometer
10. Base of petiole of Mimosa plant: Pulvinus
11. A plant which shows turgor movement: Mimosa pudica
12. Process in plants caused due to root pressure: Bleeding and guttation
13. Pressure with which water enters a cell or a solution: Osmotic pressure
14. The force causing ascent of sap due to narrow diameter of xylem vessels: Capillarity
15. The extension of root epidermis: Root hairs
(2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13 to be done in copy)

Location
Root hairs: extension of epidermal cells of root
Xylem: center of vascular bundles in stem, root, leaf stalk (petiole) and veins of leaf
Phloem: outer part of vascular bundles in stem, root, leaf stalk (petiole) and veins of leaf

Function
Root hairs: increase surface area of root for absorption of water and mineral nutrients
Xylem: upward movement of water and mineral salts from roots to different parts of the plant
Phloem: upward and downward movement of food from leaves to different parts of the plant
Differentiate
Exosmosis Endosmosis
1. Outward diffusion of water through semi permeable 1. Inward diffusion of water through semi
membrane when cell is placed in more concentrated permeable membrane when cell is placed in
solution (hypertonic solution). less concentrated solution (hypotonic
2. Cell will shrink. solution).
2. Cell will swell up.

Impermeable membrane Semipermeable membrane Freely permeable membrane

Membrane which does not allow Membrane which allows passage of Membrane which allows
anything to pass through it. Ex- selective molecules through it. Ex- substances to leave or enter
Rubber sheet. cell membrane, cellophane paper, without hindrance.
egg membrane, animal bladder, Ex- cell wall, muslin cloth.
visking bag.

Based on tonicity a solution can be of three types: Isotonic, hypertonic, hypotonic

Isotonic solution Hypertonic solution Hypotonic solution
Solution has same concentration as Concentration of solution is more Concentration of solution is less
the fluids inside the cells than the fluids inside the cells than the fluids inside the cells

Turgor pressure Wall pressure

The pressure exerted by cell contents on cell wall The pressure exerted by cell wall on cell contents
When turgor pressure equals wall pressure no water will enter or leave the cell

Diagrams to practice: Root hair (4.2), plasmolysed cell (4.9), conduction of water from root hair to xylem
(4.13)

Give reason
1. Wooden door swell in rainy season: due to imbibition
2. Salting of meat or addition of salt to pickles or sugar to jams acts as preservative: Addition of salt or sugar
creates hypertonic condition, which kills germs due to exosmosis and plasmolysis.
3. Sprinkling salt on grass and weeds kills them: Addition of salt creates hypertonic condition in soil, which
causes exosmosis and plasmolysis of root cells of grass and weeds killing them.
4. Excess fertilizers can kill plants: Addition of excess fertilizers creates hypertonic condition in soil, which
causes exosmosis and plasmolysis of root cells of plants killing them.
5. An animal cell when kept in hypotonic solution will burst but a plant cell will not: because animal doesn’t
have rigid cell wall but plant cell has. Cell wall being rigid can bear the pressure of water entering the cell
6. A marine fish when placed in freshwater or tap water will die: Freshwater will act as hypotonic solution for
marine fish causing endosmosis of water into the body of marine fish. Cells of marine fish will burst and cause
death. (opposite will happen when freshwater fish will be placed in sea water)
7. Leaves of touch-me-not plant (Mimosa pudica) droop down when touched: because stimulus of touch
causes loss of turgor pressure at the base of petiole (pulvinus) and leaflets
8. Leaves of certain plant droop during midday (or hot afternoon sun) and regain their shape in evening:
During midday, absorption of water by roots is less as compared to water lost by transpiration due to which
leaves loose turgidity and droop down. In the evening, absorption of water by roots exceeds water lost by
transpiration due to which leaves regain turgidity and shape.
9. Seedlings push through hard ground or roots of some trees can crack the concrete floor or walls: due to
turgor pressure
10. Dry seeds and grains swell up when soaked in water: due to imbibition and endosmosis
11. Potato strips when kept in 20% sucrose solution will become soft and shriveled (shrink in size): sucrose
solution will act as hypertonic solution for potato strips. Therefore potato cells will loose water by exosmosis
and become soft and shriveled (Same reason for fruit custard or vegetable raita becoming watery when left for
long time)
12. Potato strips when kept in pure water will increase in size and become firm: Water will act as hypotonic
solution for potato strips. Therefore water will enter into potato cells by endosmosis and strips will increase in
size (Same reason for wilted lettuce/spinach leaves become crisp when placed in water)
(3, 6, 7, 8 to be done in copy)
Miscellaneous points to remember
1. Features of roots which maximize water absorption:
a. Increased surface area due to presence of root hairs
b. Root hair cell sap hypertonic to soil water allowing water to enter root hair by endosmosis
c. Root hairs have thin cell wall
2. Concentration of some nutrients (such as nitrates, sulphates, potassium, zinc, manganese) is more in root
cells than in soil in order to maintain osmotic pressure of root cells for absorbing water. So these substances
enter root cells against concentration gradient by active transport
3. Turgidity of guard cells helps in opening and closing of stomata. Stomata open when guard cells are turgid
and close when guard cells are flaccid
4. Vascular bundles: Xylem and phloem occur together and form continuous tubes and are called vascular
bundles. Phloem is present on outer side of vascular bundles and xylem is present in center of vascular bundle.
5. Root pressure causes guttation and bleeding
Bleeding: loss of cell sap through cut or injured part of plant
Guttation: loss of water in form of water droplets through minute openings present at margin of leaves called
as hydathodes
6. Forces contributing to ascent (upward movement) of sap: Root pressure, transpiration pull, capillary force,
Suction or adhesion force
Force causing ascent of sap due to narrow diameter of xylem vessels: capillary force
Force due to which water molecules stick to each other forming a continuous column of water: Cohesive force
(transpirational pull)
Force due to which water molecules stick to surface of cells: adhesive force
7. Downward movement of sap mainly occurs due to gravity

Experiment 1
a. Aim: To demonstrate osmosis
b. Define the process shown.
c. Observation: Level of sugar solution in thistle funnel will rise.
Level of water in beaker will decrease
Reason: Water will move from beaker into thistle funnel by
osmosis
d. Control set up: Water in both thistle funnel and beaker
Observation in control set up: No change in level of water in thistle funnel
e. Name the parts in plant that correspond to 1. sugar solution: cell sap in root hair; 2. Parchment paper: cell
membrane of root hair; 3. Water in beaker: water in surrounding soil 4. Thistle funnel: root hair
f. Egg membrane, Animal bladder, Visking bag can be used in place of cellophane paper. They all are semi
permeable (observation will remain unchanged)
g. Advantage of process shown in plants: Helps in absorption of water by root hairs, development of root
pressure
h. What will happen if rubber sheet or muslin cloth is used instead of cellophane paper?
Ans. Rubber sheet is impermeable membrane. So there will be no movement of water molecules and no
change will be observed in level of sugar solution in thistle funnel
Muslin cloth is freely permeable: so entire sugar solution will flow down into beaker due to gravity

Experiment 2
i. Aim of experiment? To show that water is absorbed by roots
ii. Purpose of oil? To prevent loss of water by evaporation
iii. Observation and reason? Water level will fall in test tube due to absorption of
water by roots

Experiment 3
i. Aim of experiment? To show that water is conducted
upwards through xylem
ii. Tissue which is removed in A and B? A: Phloem B: Xylem
iii. Observation and reason in A and B
A: Observation-Leaves will stand out (will not droop down);
Reason- Leaves will receive water as xylem is intact, will
remain turgid and will not droop
B: Observation-Leaves will wilt and droop down; Reason- Leaves will not receive water as xylem is broken.
Leaves will lose turgidity and will droop
iv. Function of tissue removed in A and B?
v. Name of the experiment: Ringing or girdling experiment

Experiment 4
i. Aim of experiment? To show that food is conducted downwards through phloem
ii. Tissue which is removed? Phloem
iii. Observation and reason?
Observation: After few weeks part of the stem above the girdle will be swollen and part of
the stem below the girdle will stop growing or die
Reason: Part above the girdle will receive the food from leaves but part below will not
receive any food as phloem is removed in girdle area. Leaves will remain fresh and healthy
as they continue to get water through intact xylem

Arrange in correct sequence

1. Cortex, epidermis, endodermis, pericycle, root hair, xylem

DBQs
Q1. Study the following picture and answer the questions
(a) Identify the type of cell and label 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ( b) Identify the type of
pressures shown A, B, C (c) Differentiate between B and C (d) Define A (e)
What will happen if B is equal to C?

From book: Practice following DBQs section E 1, 3, 5, 6, 7,

MCQs
1. Which of the following statement is INCORRECT?
i) Osmosis includes diffusion but not vice versa ii) Osmosis is unidirectional iii) Active transport occurs through
living or non-living cell membrane iv) Higher is concentration of a solution higher will be its osmotic pressure
2. Which of the following phenomenon results due to rigidity of plant cell wall?
a) Plasmolysis b) Flaccidity c) Turgidity d) Osmosis
i) a and d ii) a, b and c iii) b and c iii) a and b iv) All of the above
3. Process by which raisins swell up when placed in water i) Endosmosis ii) Exosmosis iii) Plasmolysis iv) Active
transport
4. Cells which have lost their water content are called as
i) Plasmolysed ii) Deplasmolysed iii) Turgid iv) Plasmolysed or flaccid
5. What is responsible for guttation? i) Osmotic pressure ii) Root pressure iii) Capillary force iii) Suction force
6. In an experiment on osmosis if external pressure is applied on dilute solution i) More water will enter into
concentrated solution ii) Less water will enter into concentrated solution iii) More water will enter into dilute
solution iv) Less water will enter into dilute solution

Answer key
MCQs
1. iii, 2.ii, 3.i, 4.iv 5 ii 6.i
Order: root hair, epidermis, cortex, endodermis, pericycle, xylem