Roots
Adventitious roots
For most dicots, the root
system is a primary root system
derived from lateral roots
initiated from the radicle that
emerges during germination.
Lateral
roots
Radicle
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Roots
Adventitious roots
Impatiens
However, in some dicot plants
the radicle only functions to
anchor the seedling and the
majority of the root system is
derived from adventitious
roots.
Adventitious
roots
Adventitious roots are roots
initiated from stem tissue,
while lateral roots are initiated
from root tissue.
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Adventitious roots
Sweet potato is produced from a tuberous root.
Shoot meristem
In impatiens,
adventitious roots
appear early after
germination.
Seed coat
They are initiated
in the hypocotyl
prior to radicle
elongation.
Hypocotyl
Adventitious
roots
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Radicle
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Adventitious roots
For most monocots, the
radicle is short-lived and
the root system is mainly
from adventitious roots
initiated from the stem.
Adventitious
roots
In corn, the adventitious
roots can be initiated on
the seedling prior to
germination.
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Radicle
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Adventitious roots
In corn, the radicle only
forms a small portion of the
root system.
The adventitious roots take
on the key roles of plant
support and absorption of
water and nutrients.
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Adventitious
roots
Radicle
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Roots
Adventitious roots
Adventitious roots are
usually visible on corn
stems above the soil line.
These roots are termed
prop roots and function
in structural stability for
the stem.
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Adventitious roots
Plants with bulbs, such as
hyacinth and tulips are
perennial monocots that
derive a new adventitious
root system each year.
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Roots
Adventitious roots
Cyclamen produces a
tuberous stem that swells
from the hypocotyl of the
seedling.
Soon after germination,
the adventitious root
system initiates from the
tuberous stem.
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Adventitious roots
Palm trees are monocots and
the root system is entirely
adventitious.
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Roots
Adventitious roots
Some vines, like Euonymus,
English ivy (Hedera), and poison
ivy (Toxicodendron) all use
adventitious roots to cling to the
surface they are climbing.
English ivy
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Poison ivy
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Roots
Adventitious roots
Preformed adventitious roots are
commonly used by vines for climbing
and support as shown in these two
examples from Philodendron.
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Adventitious roots
Dodder produces adventitious roots that
are haustorial. Dodder is a parasitic vine
that penetrates the stem with haustorial
roots that take nutrients from the host
that it uses for growth.
Dodder
(Cuscuta)
Haustorial
roots
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Roots
Adventitious roots
In sweet potato (Ipomoea) new
shoots arise from the
overwintering tuberous root
and must form a new
adventitious root system.
Shoots with adventitious roots
(called slips) are taken from
sweet potato for commercial
propagation.
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Adventitious roots
The ability to form adventitious roots is the
basis for vegetative cutting propagation.
When stem cuttings are placed under the
proper environment, stem cuttings will form
a new adventitious root system.
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Roots
Adventitious roots
In order to form adventitious roots, stem cells in the phloem parenchyma
must be “re-programmed” to become meristematic root cells.
Prior to root formation. Arrows indicate
cells that will form adventitious roots.
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Adventitious roots ready to
emerge from the stem.
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