The part of the plant that develops underground and helps anchor the plant firmly in the soil

Roots help plants by:

• Anchoring them to the soil, keeping them stable.

• Absorbing water and nutrients needed for growth.

• Storing food for later use, like sugars and starches.

• Transporting water and nutrients to the rest of the plant.

• Supporting growth through hormones that regulate development.

• In short, roots keep the plant nourished, stable, and growing.

  
  

• Roots play a crucial role in helping plants adapt to climate change by reaching deeper water reserves during droughts, enhancing nutrient uptake to cope with changing soil conditions, preventing soil erosion during heavy rainfall, and buffering plants from temperature extremes by maintaining stable access to water and nutrients. Additionally, roots can form beneficial symbiotic relationships with fungi to improve nutrient absorption and adapt to waterlogged conditions during floods, ensuring plant survival in increasingly unpredictable climates.

• Plants absorb water and minerals through their roots in a process that involves multiple steps. First, water is absorbed by osmosis, where it moves from the soil, where its concentration is higher, into the root cells, where the concentration of water is lower. This happens through tiny extensions of the root called root hairs, which increase the surface area, making absorption more efficient.

  
  

  For mineral absorption, plants rely on active transport, a process that requires energy. In this process, specialized proteins in the root cell membranes act as pumps, moving essential minerals like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus from the soil into the root cells, even when the concentration of these minerals in the root is higher than in the surrounding soil.

  
  

  In addition, many plants have a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, which attach to the roots and extend their hyphae into the soil, further increasing the surface area for nutrient absorption. The fungi help the plant absorb minerals like phosphorus in exchange for sugars produced by the plant.

  
  

  Once absorbed, water and minerals travel through the plant's vascular system, specifically the xylem, which acts like a pipeline. The movement of water through the plant is driven by processes like transpiration, where water evaporates from the leaves, creating a pull that draws more water and minerals up from the roots. This coordinated process ensures that plants get the water and nutrients they need for growth and survival.