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What are the function of root?

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Functions of Roots:

Roots perform two kinds of functions Primary and Secondare. The primary functions are performed by all kinds of roots, and they are structurally adapted to per-form these functions. The secondary functions are specialized one and are performed only by those roots which are modified accordingly.

(A) The primary functions of roots are:

  1. Anchorage: The roots anchor or fix the plant to the substratum or soil and provide mechanical support to the aerial part of the plant.
  2. Absorption: Roots perform very important function of absorption of water and minerals from the soil in almost all the terrestrial plants. Since these functions are not critical in submerged aquatics, the roots are poorly developed or totally absent in them (e.g. Ceratophyllum, Utriculciria, etc.)
  3. Conduction of water and minerals: Upward movement of absorbed water and minerals is done by roots. Root pressure also plays an important role in this process.
  4. Translocation of organic nutrients. Roots are non – green: They lack chlorophyll and they are incapable of photosynthesis. Sugar, produced in the leaves by photosynthesis, is transported downward to the tissues of the root where it is metabolised.

(B) The Secondary Functions of root are:

  1.  Food storage. It occurs mainly by fleshy roots. Examples – Carrot, Radish, Beet, Sweet potato, Turnip, Asparagus, Dahlia, Curcuma, etc.
  2. Additional mechanical support: In some plants, roots are modified to provide additional mechanical support. Examples – prop roots (e.g., Banyan, Rhizophora), stilt roots (e.g., Maize, Sugar-cane, Pandanus. etc.), buttress roots (e.g., Bomb ax), etc.
  3. Haustorial roots: Roots of some parasitic plants act as haustoria e.g., Cuscuta). They penetrate upto phloem of host and absorb nourishment.
  4. Assimilation: Roots of some plants are photosvnthetic. e.g., Trapa, Taeniophyllum, Tinospora, Podostemum.
  5. Aeration: Roots of some plants help in exchange of gases, e.g., Rhizophora, Sonneratia, Heritiera.
  6. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation: Roots of leguminous plants have nodules containing nitrogen fixing bacteria.
  7. Floating and balancing: Roots of some aquatic plants store air and help in floating and balancing, e.g.,Jussiaea (= Ludwigia), Pistia, Eich – homia, etc.
  8. Hygroscopic roots: Aerial roots absorb moisture from the air e.g., epiphytic plants, Orchids, young prop roots of Banyan, etc.
  9. Reproduction: Some modified roots possess adventitious buds which grow to produce new plants and help in vegetative propagation, e.g.. Sweet potato, Dalbergia, etc.
  10. Climbing: Some weak stemmed plants develop climbing roots which help the plant to climb up the support, e.g.,Betal, Money plant, Tecomct, etc.

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