Root System

Root - the anchor of plant:

Root is nothing but the continuation of stem of the plant in ground. Above the ground, you can see strong stem, beautiful flowers, tasty fruits, generative seeds, but for the growth and activity of all these parts of the plant is given by unfamiliar and unseen roots.

What the roots will do in general?

• It anchors or fixes the plant firmly in the soil.
• It will give erectness and rigidity of the plant.
• It will absorb foods and minerals from the soil and transport it to the upper part of the plant.
• It will also absorb water.

Major classification of root system:

Root system is broadly classified into two. They are:

• Taproot system
• Fibrous root system.

Taproot system:

In this root system, there is a middle, long and strong main root came as the continuation of the stem, such root is called taproot or primary root. To give very good support for the plant, the branches will come off from the main taproot. Such branches are called secondary roots and tertiary roots. Finally the tertiary roots ends up in a root hair to maximize the surface area more to increase the absorption in roots.

The length of branches of taproot (secondary and tertiary roots) extends up to several metres and the length depends on the height and size of the plant and tree. This type of roots found in all dicot plants.

Fibrous root system:

In this root system, there is no primary root, secondary root and tertiary root. The roots being very fibrous right from the bottom of the stem and here there are no branches.

This type of roots will not run up to several meters in ground but highly compacted for big trees like coconut and palm trees. This type of roots found in all monocot trees.

Some extraordinary functions of roots:

Roots can perform some extraordinary function and it is adaptive advantage to that plant. They are:

• Additional support,
• Nitrogen fixation,
• Food storage,
• Respiration,
• Absorbing humidity from atmosphere.