The plant organ that absorbs water is the root , specifically the younger portions near the root tips and the root hairs. Water is absorbed from the soil by the root hairs through osmosis, and then transported inward to the xylem vessels for movement upwards to the rest of the plant. Root hairs increase the surface area for absorption, making the root system efficient in taking up water from the soil.
How Roots Absorb Water
- Water absorption mainly occurs in the root hairs located near the tip of young roots.
- The process is primarily osmosis — water moves from an area of higher concentration (soil) to lower concentration (root cells).
- Root cells actively absorb minerals, which indirectly facilitates water absorption by creating a solute gradient.
- Water moves through the cortex via apoplastic, symplastic, and transmembrane pathways until reaching the xylem for transport upwards.
In summary, the root is the plant organ responsible for water absorption, with root hairs playing a crucial role in this process.
