Root Hair Cells Flashcards
What is the function of root hair cells?
Their function is to absorb the water and mineral ions from the soil for plant growth and function.
Where are root hair cells found?
They are found in the roots of plant cells.
How are root hair cells adapted to maximise surface area?
They have a large surface area created by extended shape
How are root hair cells adapted to minimise diffusion distance?
- Thin cell walls
- Cell membrane is partially permeable to water
How are root hair cells adapt to concentration gradient constraints?
1) Cytoplasm contains a lot of mitochondria to supply ATP for active transport processes.
2) Cytoplasm contains a large storage vacuole which creates a low water potential inside the cell so osmosis is maximised
3) Cell membrane contains ion pumps for active transport of small charged nutrient ions
4) Cell membrane contains channel proteins for diffusion of small charged nutrient ions
Why is the cell membrane good for absorbing water?
.Partially permeable membrane to transport water and ions into the cell
Why are protein channels good for absorbing water?
Diffusion of ions
Why are vacuoles good for absorbing water
Vacuole with lower water potential to allow water to move into the cell by osmosis
Why are no chloroplast good for absorbing water
No chloroplasts so more room for absorbed water
Why is there no chlorophyll in a root hair cell?
.No light in the soil so no photosynthesis
.Because genes for chloroplasts are switched off
.So there is more space for other organelles and absorbed water
What is the difference between a palisade cell and a root hair cell?
The palisade cell has many chloroplasts so photosynthesis can occur, the root hair cell has no chloroplasts at all to make room for absorbed water.
