EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Plant respiration happens not only in the leaves, but also through the root system. In root systems, oxygen (O2) in soil pores diffuses into the root hairs and gets transported to all parts of the roots.

Detailed explanation-2: -Roots need oxygen, too! If the soil is dense and compacted (with no soil pores), there will not be enough oxygen available for respiration. Too much water in the soil will also limit the amount of oxygen the roots can take in.

Detailed explanation-3: -Plants do require oxygen to respire, the process in return gives out carbon dioxide. Unlike humans and animals, plants do not possess any specialized structures for exchange of gases, however, they do possess stomata (found in leaves) and lenticels (found in stems) actively involved in the gaseous exchange.

Detailed explanation-4: -A plant’s roots absorb air from the gaps between soil particles. The air in the soil particles comes into touch with the root hairs. The oxygen in soil particles diffuses into root hair and reaches all of the root’s cells, where it is used in respiration.

Detailed explanation-5: -The roots of the plants (e.g., Rhizophora) growing in marshy/swamp areas become negatively geotropic. They grow vertically upwards in air, above the soil level and respire so called respiratory roots or pneumatophores.