STUDYING ATYPICAL ROOT-A CARROT
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Materials: Threefresh carrots, a sharpknife, red ink or vegetable dye
(which you can get from yourmotheror at a nearby store), a glassoftap
water,medicinedropper.
Follow this procedure: Cutone carrotacross in the middle. (You have
made across section.) Cutthe secondcarrotinhalfvertically. (This time you
have made alongitudinal section.) Now, cut off the tip of the thirdcarrotand
place the cut end in asolutionof water containinga dropperfull of red ink
or vegetable dye. Let it soak for 24hours;then make alongitudinal section
ofthesoakedcarrot.
You will observe:In the cross section smallrootlets(or secondaryroots)
willradiatefrom thecentralcore ofthecarrot towardthe outside. In the
longitudinal section, you will see the centralcore and the secondaryroots
extendingtheentirelengthofthecarrotuptowardthebeginningofthe stem.
When you examine thecarrotwhich youstained,you will see the redcolor
in the tubes of thecarrot'scentralcylinderextendingfrom the tip end to the
fattertopofthecarrotroot.
A carrotis actually a taproot (a majorroot which grows downward
vertically and gives off smaller roots growing from its sides). Itnotonly stores
some food for the plant(and for you, too), but it also absorbs soil water
containing valuable minerals. This water travels up into the stems of the
carrotplant,and from there to the leaves. The leaves need water and minerals
sothatthey canmanufacturefood for the entire plant.
Radishes, turnips,parsnipsand beets are alsofamiliartaproots.