Question

Root cap is absent in
A) Mesophytes
B) Hydrophyte
C) Epiphytes
D) Xerophytes

Answer 1

The root cap is defined as the structure like tissue that is present at the tip of a plant root that secretes mucilage to simplify the movement of the root cap through the soil. Root cap is composed of osteocytes that are balancing organs which are required in gravity perception in plants.

Complete answer:
Root cap protects the growing region of root tip of plants and control of geotropic movement. The role of the root cap is to enable the downward growth of the root cap. The root cap acts as a covering of the sensitive tissue within the root cap. It also performs an important role in communication with the soil microbiota. The well-defined function of the root cap is to hide and protect the cells at the top of the root cap of a plant.

Now let us find solution from given options:
A) Mesophytes : These plants live in mesic conditions that are average dry and average water environments and they contain root caps.
B) Hydrophyte : Hydrophytes are aquatic plants. These plants do not possess root caps, instead they possess root pockets and act as balancing organs.
C) Epiphytes : Epiphytes are plants that grow from the surface of the plant and derive the nutrition from rain, and air and possess root cap.
D) Xerophytes : These plants are well adapted to live in dry habitats and they possess root caps. Our required option is b that is hydrophyte.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: Root cap assists in growth because of the secretion of a lubricant that permits better movement through the soil. Most of the plants have root caps. Root caps are composed of masses of parenchymal cells.