Root Anatomy of Monocots and Dicots

Introduction

The simulation “Root Anatomy of Monocots and Dicots” aims to investigate the root anatomy of monocot and dicot plants. The study of the internal structure of plants is called anatomy. Different organs in a plant show differences in their internal structure. Monocots and dicots are also seen to be anatomically different in the internal morphology of the root.

Procedure

Collect roots from the maize and sunflower plants.
Wet the surfaces of the razor blade.
Carefully move the blade horizontally over the surface of the material in quick succession in such a manner that a very thin and complete slice of the material is cut.
Transfer all these sections into a watch glass containing water.
Choose the thinnest possible and most complete sections, and transfer them into a watch glass containing safranin. Allow these to remain there for about 2 minutes.
With the help of a brush, gently transfer the section into another watch glass containing water to remove the excess safranin stain. Keep the material for a few minutes and transfer it into a watch glass containing a few drops of dilute acid in water to remove the excess safranin stain.
Wash with water and transfer the section onto a clean slide containing 1 drop of glycerine.
Place a coverslip over it, avoiding air bubbles, and transfer it to the stage of the microscope to be observed.

Observation

Characters like the epidermis, cortex, and endodermis are similar in dicots and monocot roots. The epidermis is the outermost layer with unicellular root hairs and no stomata or cuticle; the cortex is a multicellular layer and well-developed; and the endodermis is the innermost layer of the cortex with barrel-shaped cells in both dicot and monocot roots. The pericycle is the outermost layer of the vascular tissue in monocot and dicot roots. A few characters differ in monocot and dicot roots, including vascular bundles and pith. Vascular bundles are polyarch in monocots and diarch to hexarch (2–6 vascular bundles) in dicots. Pith is large in monocot roots and very small or sometimes absent in dicot roots.

FAQs on Root Anatomy of Monocots and Dicots

Q1. What is the anatomy of a plant?

Ans: The study of internal morphology or structure, i.e., the cells of various tissues in an organ of a plant body, is called the anatomy of a plant.

Q2. What is the purpose of using safranin and glycerine in the preparation of a slide?

Ans: Glycerine is used for this purpose because it is a perfect hydrating agent, prevents the specimen from drying out, and maintains an isotonic medium for cells. Safranin is a dye used to stain and view tissues and cells under a microscope.

Q3. Write about the two differences between monocot and dicot roots.

Ans: Vascular bundles are polyarch in monocots and diarch to hexarch (2–6 vascular bundles) in dicots. Pith is large in monocot roots and very small or sometimes absent in dicot roots.

Q4. Mention the two similar characters in monocot and dicot roots.

Ans: The epidermis is the outermost layer with unicellular root hairs and no stomata or cuticle; the cortex is a multicellular layer and well-developed in both monocots and dicots.

Q5. Explain how endodermis and pericycle are similar in monocot and dicot roots.

Ans: The endodermis is the innermost layer of the cortex with barrel-shaped cells, and the pericycle is the outermost layer of the vascular tissue in monocot and dicot roots.