PBIO 004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Turgor Pressure, Taproot, Dicotyledon

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Plant Biology
• Course: PBIO 004
• Professor: Mary Lauretta Tierney

Document Summary

Conserved functions of roots: anchor plants in the soil, absorb water and nutrients needed for growth no water or minerals enter through the leaves or stem, site of hormone production. Specialized functions of roots: help support the stem (prop roots, provide oxygen in underwater roots (pneumatophores) The root system contains a tap root (the initial root that grows from the seed) and lateral roots, each with their own apical meristem and primary meristems. Cells expand as water enters the vacuole of new cells, causing the vacuole to enlarge: the pressure the vacuole exerts on the outside of the cell results in growth. Cellulose microfibers surround a cell on two of its four sides, forcing it to either grow vertically (stem and root cells), or horizontally (leaf cells), depending on which sides are wrapped. Auxin: a plant hormone that stimulates many forms of growth in plant cells.