AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Water is passively transported into the roots and then into the xylem via cells of cortex. Plants absorb water from the soil by osmosis. Root hair cells are adapted for this by having a large surface area to speed up osmosis. The forces of cohesion and adhesion cause the water molecules to form a column in the xylem.

Detailed explanation-2: -Water from the soil enters the root hairs by moving along a water potential gradient and into the xylem through either the apoplast or symplast pathway. It is carried upward through the xylem by transpiration, and then passed into the leaves along another water potential gradient.

Detailed explanation-3: -Water can reach the cortex of the xylem vessels via two pathways: Symplast, where water moves between the cytoplasm of neighbouring cells. Apoplast, where water can moves directly through the permeable cell walls and intercellular spaces of neighbouring cells.

Detailed explanation-4: -Hence, water moves from the soil to the root hair cells by the process of osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of low concentration to high concentration through a semipermeable membrane.

Detailed explanation-5: -Water moves from soil to root hair cell and then to cortical cell. It then passes through passage cells, pericycle and xylem.