ABSORPTION BY ROOTS

NOTES
1. Semi-permeable membrane- a membrane which allows only
selective movement of substances.
2. Imbibition-It is a phenomenon by which the living or dead plant
cells absorb water by surface attraction.
3. Diffusion-It is the free movement of molecules of substance from
the region of their higher concentration to the region of their lower
concentration when the two are in a direct contact.
4. Osmosis -Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from
their region of higher concentration (dilute or low solute
concentration) to their region of lower concentration
(concentrated or higher solute concentration) through a semi-
permeable membrane.
5. Endosmosis- inward diffusion of water through a semi-permeable
membrane when the surrounding solution is less concentrated or
dilute.
6. Exosmosis-outward diffusion of water through a semi-permeable
membrane when the surrounding solution more concentrated.
7. Osmotic pressure-minimum pressure exerted to prevent passage
of pure solvent into solution when separated by semi-permeable
membrane.
8. Tonicity – relative concentration of the solutions that determines
the direction and extent of diffusion.
9. Isotonic -the relative concentration of the solution on either side
of the membrane is same.
10. Hypotonic- the solution outside the cell has lower
concentration than the cell sap.
11. Hypertonic-the solution outside the cell has higher
concentration than the cell sap.
 12. Active transport- it is the passage of a substance (ions/salts)
from lower to higher concentration through a living cell
membrane by using cell energy.
13. Passive transport-free movement of molecules from their
higher concentration to their lower concentration without using
the cell energy.
14. Turgid cell- swollen cell
15. Flaccid cell- shrunken cell
16. Turgidity – condition in which the cell is rigid.
17. Flaccidity – condition in which the cell content is shrunken.
18. Turgor pressure- the pressure of the cell contents on the cell
wall.
19. Wall pressure- the pressure exerted by the cell wall on the
cell content.
20. Plasmolysis-shrinkage of cytoplasm from the cell wall.
21. Root pressure- pressure developed in the root due inward
movement of water due cell to cell osmosis.
22. Guttation – loss of water from the plant body in the form
droplets.
23. Transpiration pull- suction force developed due to
transpiration.
24. Adhesion – attraction between different kinds of molecules.
25. Cohesion – attraction between the same kinds of molecules.
Functions of root:
1. Fixes the plant in the soil and thus provides support.
2. Helps in absorption of water and mineral salts from the soil. This
is the most important life-supporting function performed by roots.
Need of water and mineral salts
• Plants need water and mineral salts for the following four
purposes:
 1. Photosynthesis
2. Transpiration
3. Transportation
4. Mechanical stiffness
• Minerals required by the plants are absorbed from the soil by the
roots only. Some are absorbed as salts (nitrates, sulphates etc…..)
and some as ions (potassium, calcium, magnesium etc….).
• These elements form the main constituents of the cell and cell
organelles and they also help in the synthesis of different
compounds and enzymes within the cell.
Characteristics of roots for absorption of water
1. Have greater surface area.
2. The cells sap of the root hairs are
at higher concentration than that
of the surrounding water.
3. Root hairs have thin walls.
Absorption and conduction of water and minerals
The following five phenomena helps in the entire process of
absorption and conduction of water and mineral salts through the
stem.
1. Imbibition
2. Diffusion
3. Osmosis
4. Active transport
5. Turgidity and Flaccidity
1. Imbibition
It is a phenomenon by which the living or dead plant cells
absorb water by surface attraction.
Eg: dry seeds, wooden doors and windows swell up in contact
with water or on exposure to moist air.
• Imbibitional pressure is important for rupturing of seed
coat during germination.
• It is an important force in the ascent of sap.
2. Diffusion
 It is the free movement of molecules of substance from the
region of their higher concentration to the region of their
lower concentration when the two are in a direct contact.

3. Osmosis and osmotic pressure

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from their region of
higher concentration (dilute or low solute concentration) to their
region of lower concentration (concentrated or higher solute
concentration) through a semi-permeable membrane.
26. ENDOSMOSIS- inward diffusion of water through a semi-
permeable membrane when the surrounding solution is less
concentrated or dilute. As a result, the cell swells up (turgid)
27. EXOSMOSIS-outward diffusion of water through a
semi-permeable membrane when the surrounding solution
more concentrated. The cell shrinks (flaccid)