Transport into roots and up to the leaves

Water and dissolved minerals from the soil enter plants through their roots. Many of the cells on the surface of the root contain root hairs. These projections increase the overall surface area increasing the ability of the root to take up more water.

The process by which water enters the root is osmosis.

Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high water concentration (weak/dilute solution) i.e. the soil to an area of low water concentration (strong/concentrated solutions) i.e. the plant cells through a partially permeable membrane (the cell membrane).

For an explanation of osmosis, click here!

Once water enters the root from the soil it travels to the xylem vessels in the middle of the root. The xylem vessels transport the water up through the stem and into the leaves of the plant. The leaves have a high concentration of dissolved minerals produced from photosynthesis and an overall low water concentration. Water is thus transferred from the xylem vessels to the cells in the leaves via osmosis.


The animation below shows water transport into the roots: