Notes on modification of Roots

Modification of root

Modifications of plants modified into various form to carry out some special functions.

Basically 2 types of modifications

1) Modifications of Tap root

Fleshy or storage tap roots :-

In some plant, the tap root along with hypocotyl become aswollen or fleshy due to food storage. Here secondary root remain thin. They may assume various shapes such as

1) Fusiform

2) Napiform

3) Conical

4) Tuberous

F.u.N-C.T (fun city)

Fusiform	Napiform	Conical	Tuberous
Tap root becomes spindle shaped. swollen at middle and gradually tapering at both ends e.g. Radish	Tap root becomes top-like or almost spherical that tapers sharply towards the lower end Turnip , sugar-beet	Tap root becomes cone shaped, broad at the base and gradually tapers towards the apex Carrot	Tap root becomes fleshy without any definite shape e.g. Mirabilis

Fusi- radish
Napi-turnip
conical-carrot
Tuberous-mirabilis

2) Tap root for vital functions

1) Modulated

2) Respiratoty

3) Pneumatophores



M.R.P - maximum retail price

Modulated or tuberculated roots	Reproductive	Pneumatophoes or respiratory roots
Tap root bears irregular swellings called Root nodules or tubercules .These tubercules contain N² fixing bacteria (rhizobium) e.g. roots of leguminous plants , pea gram soyabean	The tap root and their branches bear adventitious buds for development of new plants.Dalbergia sisso (shisham)	These are aerial, negatively geotropic roots that arise from horizontal branches of tap root. It bears Lenticles or pneumathodes near tips for gas exchange eg- mangrove plants like - rhizophora , heritiera
Modulated root of groundnut	reproductive root of dalbergia	respiratory roots of rhizophora plant

Modifications of adventitious roots

Food storage

1) Nodules

2) Tuberous

3) Fasciculated

4) Palmate

5) Annulated

6) Moniliform/Beaded

No Time for practicing Any Module

Nodulose	Tuberous	Fasciculated
Roots are swollen only near the tips e.g. maranta (arrow root) , curcuma amanda (mango ginger), turmeric etc.	Swollen adventitious root without any definite shape. They occur singly eg- Ipomea batatas (sweet potato)	They are clustures of tuberous roots arise from the base of the stem Dahlia , Aspargus
Curcuma root	roots of ipomea (sweet potato)	Dahlia root image

Palmate	Annulated	Moniliform / Beaded
Swollen adventitious roots that assume like a human palm e.g. Orchids lantifoila (orchids)	Roots are swollen through their length like a stalk of rings or discs Carphaelis (ipecac)	Roots swollen at regular intervals giving a beaded appearancee.g. Monor dica (bitter gourd) , Basella (spinach)
Plamate root of anorchid	root of ipecac	momordica roots

2. For mechanical support

1) Floating roots

2) Climbing roots

3) Stilt roots

4) Buttress or Plank roots

5) Prop or pillar roots

6) Contractile roots

Fun City Should Be Properly Controlled

Floating	Climbing	Stilt
Roots are spongy store air and arise from the node. It helps in buoyancy and gas exchange e.g. Jussiaea	Adventitious roots arise from nodes (ex- betal) Internodes helps in climbing upon support eg- Ivy	Adventitious roots grow obliquely from basal nodes of stem. Provide additional support for absorptione.g. Screw pine , sugarcane, maize , milet etc.
floating roots	roots of betal	stilt root example

Buttress	Prop	Contractile
The roots are laterally compressed and plank-like arise from basal parts of stem and spread in various direction e.g. Pipal , almond	Adventitious roots arise from horizontal aerial branches. Grow vertically downwards and penetrate the soil. Ficus (banyan)	Adventitious root arise from the underground stem which can contract to bring the stem at a proper level in the soile.g. Crocus , canna
root of ficus religiosa	root of Banyan tree	momordica roots

For Vital functions

1) Sucking ,parasitic

2) Epiphytic

3) Assimilatory

SEA

Sucking , Parasitic	Epiphytic	Assimilatory
Adventitious roots penetrate the host plants and absorb nutrients through them e.g. Cuscuta	Aerial roots of epiphytes having special tissue called velamen for absorbing moisture from air. Hence they are hydyoscopic Vanda	Aerial adventitious roots that become green and carry out photosyathesis Trapa , Tinospora
Cuscutta roots	Vanda root	Trapa root

All notes is posted by ABC.Ek (student of Hitech college of pharmacy) Subscribe to learn more comment below with your ideas