Water Transport in Plants
Science: KS3, topic 1.5.6
Water Pathway
Water moves into the plant in the roots, then moves up through the plant:
Root hair cell
- First, water osmoses into root hair cells.
- These are specialised cells on roots that have projections, creating a large surface area for osmosis.
Root cortex cells
- Water then moves into the root cortex cells.
Xylem vessels
- Xylem vessels collect water from the root cortex and transport it up the plant's stem.
Mesophyll cells
- When it reaches a leaf, water osmoses out of the xylem into the leaf's mesophyll cells.
Investigating the pathway
- By putting a wilting celery stalk in water that contains a stain such as blue food dye, it is possible to watch the blue water travelling up the celery stem and to the leaves.
Test yourself on Water Transport in Plants
Water Pathway
A gardener trims off all the root hairs from a plant's roots. What is the most likely effect on the plant's water uptake?
A gardener trims off all the root hairs from a plant's roots. What is the most likely effect on the plant's water uptake?
By what process does water enter root hair cells?
A gardener pours water only onto a plant's leaves, not the soil. Why would this fail to supply the plant with enough water?