Anatomical Structure of Monocot Root (Zea mays- Maize)- long question

T.S of monocot root consists of following internal structure:

1. Epiblema: It is the outermost protective single layer made from compactly arranged
parenchymatous cells without intercellular space. Usually Epiblema has no stomata but bears
unicellular epidermal root hairs, so also termed as piliferous layer or rhizodermis. Function:
take part in the absorption of water and minerals from the soil. Due to lack of cuticle, root
epidermis termed as epiblema. The epiphytes have several layered hygroscopic epidermis,
called velamen tissues.
2. Cortex: Cortex is a multi-layered well developed and made from oval parenchymatous cells with
intercellular spaces that help in gaseous exchange. In monocots and several old roots, few layers
of cortex just below epiblema give rise to a single or multilayered cuticularised
sclerenchymatous region called exodermis which helps in mechanical support to the roots (like
hypodermis to stem). It lies below epiblema and helps in storage of food.
3. Endodermis: It is innermost layer of cortex made from barrel shaped parenchyma. It forms a
definite ring around the stele. The cells of endodermis bear a special thickening on their radial
and tangential walls, called casparian strips. It is deposition of suberin and lignin. Usually
passage cells are absent in monocot roots. Casparian stripes don’t allow even water to pass
through it that prevents from plasmolysis of endodermal cells; hence it is also called biological
barrier or biological checkpost. It regulates the inward and outward flow of water and minerals
and prevents diffusion of air into xylem elements. Usually passage cells are absent, the cells
which do not have casparian strips and lies opposite to protoxylem are called passage cells.
4. Stele:
i. Pericycle: It lies below endodermis, single layer (multilayer in Smilax) and made
from thin walled parenchymatous cells. It is outermost layer of stellar system.
Usually it is made from parenchymatous cells but it may become sclerenchymatous
in older roots. Several lateral roots arise from this layer. Hence, lateral roots are
endogenous in origin.
ii. Vascular bundle: VB is radial type, arranged in a ring, polyarch (presence of many
alternating xylem and phloem bundles). The number of xylem and phloem vary
from, 8 to 46 (100 in pandanus).

 Xylem: The xylem is exarch, i.e. the protoxylem lies towards periphery and
metaxylem toward center. The protoxylem has smaller vessels with spiral or
annular thickening, whereas the walls of metaxylem contains pitted
thickening.
 Phleom: It consists of seive tubes, companion cells and phloem
parenchyma. Usually phleom sclerenchyma or fibers are absent. Secondary
growth is absent in monocot roots due to lack of vascular and cork
cambium.

iii. Conjunctive tissue: It is parenchymatous tissues which separates or lies between

xylem and phloem bundles. It may become sclerenchymatous in older roots.
iv. Pith: It is large, well developed portion of monocot root. It occupies the central
portion of root and made from thin walled parenchymatous tissue with intercellular
spaces. It contains abundant amount of starch grains.

Identifying Characters of monocot root

 Epiblema is single layered and lacks cuticle.

 Epiblema cells bear numerous unicellular root hairs, called piliferous layer
or rhizodermis.
 Cortex is multilayered and parenchymatous.
 Endodermis is single layered parenchymatous and have casparian strips.
 Pericycle gives lateral roots.
 Vascular bundles are radial type, polyarch (more than 6).
 Xylem is exarch i.e. protoxylem lies outward, oval in shape.
 Pith is well developed and broad.
Anatomical Structure of Dicot root (Gram root)- long question

T.S of dicot root consists of following internal structure:

1. Epiblema: It is the outermost protective single layered with several unicellular root hairs, so termed
as piliferous layer or rhizodermis. It consists of thin walled, compactly arranged barrel shaped living
parenchymatous cells. Usually epiblema is characterized by absence of stomata and cuticle. It provides
protection to the roots and due to presence of unicellular root hairs; it also helps in absorption of water
and minerals from soil.

2. Cortex: It lies below epiblema. It is thin walled, multilayered region made up of loosely arranged oval
or polygonal parenchymatous cells. They usually have intercellular spaces for gaseous exchange. The
cortical cells have no chloroplast but contain leucoplast for storage of starch grains/food. The cortex is
responsible for transportation of water and salts from the root hairs to the center of the root.
3. Endodermis: It is the innermost layer of cortex and covers the stele. It consists of compactly arranged
barrel shaped parenchyma without intercellular spaces. Most of the cells are characterised by the
presence of special thickening of suberin and lignin on their radial and tangential walls called casparian
strips which prevents from plasmolysis of endodermal cell. Some endodermal cell near protoxylem has
no casparian strips and called passage cells or transfusion cells. These cells allow transfer of water and
minerals through the endodermis towards protoxylem, hence endodermis termed as called biological
checkpost.

4. Stele: All the structure lying below endodermis is called stele (pericycle+vascular bundle+conjunctive
tissue+pith).

i. Pericycle: It is the outermost layer of stele and composed of uniseriate/single layer of

parenchymatous cells without intercellular spaces. Some dicots and hydrophytes do not bear pericycle.
Several lateral roots and lateral meristem arise from pericycle region (hence lateral roots are
endogenous in origin). At the time of secondary growth, it produces secondary cambium or phellogens.

ii. Vascular bundles: VB is radial type. They are 2-8 in number and arranged in ring. 2-diarch(tomato),3-
teriarch (pea), 4-tetrarch (gram), 5- pentarch (cotton), 6-hexarch (Nymphaea-lotus), number represent
bundle of xylem and phloem.

 Xylem is exarch (i.e. protoxylem towards the periphery and metaxylem towards the centre) and
consists of tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres. Shape- angular.

 Pholem: Phloem forms oval masses beneath the pericycle, alternating with xylem bundles.
Sometimes pericycle bears sclerenchymatous patches above phloem which provide mechanical
support. Pholem consists of sieve tubes, companion cells and pholem parenchyma. Usually
pholem fibres are absent or reduced.

iii. Conjunctive tissue: Xylem and phloem bundles are separated from each other by
parenchymatous cells called conjunctive or complementary tissue. They help to form cambium at the
time of secondary growth.

iv. Pith: It is centrally located, consists of thin walled, polygonal parenchyma cells with intercellular
spaces. In dicots roots, it may be reduced or absent. It helps in storage of food.
Distinguishing Features/ Identifying characters of Dicot Root

 Epiblema is single layered, colourless without intercellular spaces and produce unicellular root
hairs, hence also called as piliferous layer or rhizodermis.

 Cortex is homogenous, multilayered parenchymatous with intercellular space.

 Endodermis is single layered parenchymatous which contains both casparian strips and passage
cells.

 Pericycle is single layered and become meristematic to give lateral roots and secondary tissues.

 Vascular bundles are radial; number vascular bundle varies from 2 to 4 rarely more (upto 6).

 Xylem is exarch; protoxylem facing outward, angular in outline.

 Usually conjunctive tissues are well developed.

 Pith is absent or highly reduced.