Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Plant Diversity

Introduction to Plant Diversity

From Water to Land

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.

Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte

Seed Structure and Early Development of the Sporophyte

Seed structures are composed of a protective seed coat surrounding a plant embryo, and a food store for the developing embryo. The embryo contains the precursor tissues for leaves, stem, and roots. The endosperm and cotyledons—seed leaves—act as the food reserves for the growing embryo.

Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots

Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots

Vascular plants, which account for over 90% of the Earth’s vegetation, all undergo primary growth—which lengthens roots and shoots. Many land plants, notably woody plants, also undergo secondary growth—which thickens roots and shoots.

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

Seedless Vascular Plants

Seedless Vascular Plants

Seedless Vascular Plants Were the First Tall Plants on Earth

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Reversible White Matter Diffusion Restriction Lesion in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria.

Neurology·2026

Same author

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients With Mixed Chimerism Following Double Cord Blood Transplantation: A Case Report.

Case reports in hematology·2026

Same author

Real-world outcomes of ponatinib in heavily pretreated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Annals of hematology·2026

Same author

Phantom Brain model Replicating Multiple ECoG Signals for Preclinical Device Testing.

IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering·2026

Same author

Tomosyn-2 Regulates Postnatal β-Cell Expansion and Insulin Secretion to Maintain Glucose Homeostasis.

Diabetes·2026

Same author

A hierarchical abscission program regulates reproductive allocation in <i>Prunus</i> × <i>yedoensis</i> and <i>Prunus sargentii</i>.

Horticulture research·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits

Published on: February 10, 2023

Root Cap Cuticles Confer a Transient, Penetration-Optimised Phase During Early Seedling Establishment.

Woo-Taek Jeon¹, Jeong-A Kim¹, Ahyeon Cheon^1,2

¹School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Plant, Cell & Environment

|May 22, 2026

Summary

The root cap cuticle (RCC) protects young roots entering soil, aiding in mechanical challenges and directional growth. Its absence impairs root establishment and gravitropism.

Keywords:

Arabidopsis gravitropism mechanical stress root cap cuticle root cap detachment root penetration

More Related Videos

Imaging the Root Hair Morphology of Arabidopsis Seedlings in a Two-layer Microfluidic Platform

Imaging the Root Hair Morphology of Arabidopsis Seedlings in a Two-layer Microfluidic Platform

Published on: August 15, 2017

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Published on: March 1, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits

Published on: February 10, 2023

Imaging the Root Hair Morphology of Arabidopsis Seedlings in a Two-layer Microfluidic Platform

Imaging the Root Hair Morphology of Arabidopsis Seedlings in a Two-layer Microfluidic Platform

Published on: August 15, 2017

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Inoculation Strategies to Infect Plant Roots with Soil-Borne Microorganisms

Published on: March 1, 2022

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Root Development
Mechanobiology

Background:

Seedling roots face mechanical stress entering soil.
The transient root cap cuticle (RCC) role is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

Define the early functional window of root establishment.
Investigate the RCC's contribution to this phase.

Main Methods:

Analysis of RCC-deficient mutants.
Assessment of root penetration efficiency.
Microscopic examination of root cap integrity.
Gravitropism and hydrotropism assays.

Main Results:

RCC deficiency reduced soil penetration and increased root tip damage.
RCC absence accelerated root cap cell detachment and disrupted layer integrity.
RCC function is linked to a transient window of gravitropic control.

Conclusions:

The RCC provides mechanical protection and maintains root cap turnover.
RCC is crucial for integrating mechanical resilience and gravitropism during early root establishment.