GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Plants absorb water from the soil by osmosis. They absorb mineral ions by active transport, against the concentration gradient. Root hair cells are adapted for taking up water and mineral ions by having a large surface area to increase the rate of absorption.

Detailed explanation-2: -Active transport in plants For plants to take up mineral ions, ions are moved into root hairs, where they are in a higher concentration than in the dilute solutions in the soil. Active transport then occurs across the root so that the plant takes in the ions it needs from the soil around it.

Detailed explanation-3: -Water enters the cells of the root hair by the process of osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration through a semi-permeable membrane. Hence, they perform the function of absorption.

Detailed explanation-4: -Water is found in the spaces between the soil particles. Water and mineral salts first enter through the cell wall and cell membrane of the root hair cell by osmosis. Root hair cells are outgrowths at the tips of plants’ roots (Figure 5.27). They function solely to take up water and mineral salts.