EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The purpose of the root cap is to enable downward growth of the root, with the root cap covering the sensitive tissue in the root. Also, the root cap enables geoperception or gravitropism. This allows the plant to grow downwards (with gravity) or upwards (against gravity).

Detailed explanation-2: -The root cap, a small tissue at the tip of the root, protects the root from environmental stress and functions in gravity perception.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Columella Cells Contribute to Root Gravity Sensing. In roots, gravity sensing occurs primarily in the cap, an organ that covers the root apical meristem. The root cap serves both as a sensor for several environmental cues and as a protective structure preventing meristem damage as the root grows in soil.

Detailed explanation-4: -Gravity perception is important to plants because they need to send their roots downwards towards water and nutrients and their shoots upwards towards light. Plants are known to detect gravity using statoliths, which are small starch-filled packets that settle at the bottom of gravity-sensing cells.

Detailed explanation-5: -It protects the root from environmental stress. It enables the downward growth of the root.