Movement of water across the root (symplast and apoplast pathway)

What. is the apoplast pathway?

Water moves through gaps between cellulose fibres in the cell wall due to cohesive properties of the water

What is adhesion?

Water molecules form H bonds with carbohydrates in wall of the xylem so they stick to the xylem wall

What is cohesion?

Water molecules form H bonds with each other and stick together

What is the casparian strip?

Band of waxy material called suberin that runs around each of the endodermal cells forming a waterproof layer

What happens to water in the apoplast pathway?

Forced into cytoplasm (has protein carriers in cell membrane to pass nitrate ions into xylem) joining the symplast pathway

Why is cytoplasm diversion important?

Water passes through selectively permeable cell membrane which excludes toxic solutes in soil water from reaching living tissues

What do endodermal cells do?

Move mineral ions into the xylem by active transport