Describe the pathway that a drop of water would go through starting at the root system and leaving at the leaf. Be sure to indicate the various tissue types that the water will come in contact with along its pathway.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers may vary: The water would enter into the root system through the epidermis and progress into the cortex. Here it will move between the cells of the cortex within the root. The water will pass through the endodermal cells because of the Casparian strip. Once through it will move into the vascular cylinder which contains the xylem and phloem. Water will move upwards in the plant through the xylem. Eventually it will reach the leaves. Here it can be used for photosynthesis in the palisade mesophyll or it may diffuse out of the leaf through the stomata.