Functions of Tap Root

Functions of the tap root are as follows:

• Anchorage: The primary function of the taproot is to provide deep anchorage, holding the plant firmly to its ground and thus preventing it from toppling over by heavy rains or strong winds.
• Storage: Taproots of carrot, sugar beet, radish, beetroot, parsnip, and others are modified into storage organs. The stored food reserves are consumed during adverse conditions or for the plant’s growth and development.
• Absorption: Taproot also contributes in the absorption of nutrients and water from the soil. It helps to access water from deeper layers of soil, helping the plant to survive in arid climates or during periods of drought. In addition, it also helps plants to absorb vital nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, from deep within the soil required for plant growth and metabolism.
• Respiration: Plants growing in swamps develop pneumatophores which are also known as respiratory roots. The surface of the root has microscopic pore-like structures called pneumathodes that assist in gaseous exchange. For example: Red mangrove.
• Nitrogen fixation: Several taproots have irregularly inflated nodules. With the aid of Rhizobium, which are bacteria that fix nitrogen, they are able to absorb free nitrogen from the atmosphere and transform it into organic molecules. For example: Soybean.

Taproot Diagram illustrates that a taproot is the thick primary root of a plant that develops vertically downward into the soil and branches out into smaller lateral roots. Plants usually have one of two root systems: a taproot system or a fibrous root system. In contrast to fibrous roots, which are thin and branched, taproots have a conspicuous central axis. In this article, we will study the characteristics and functions of the taproot with a well-labeled diagram showing its different parts and structure.