MHT CET 202621 AprilMorning Shift
- Exam
- MHT CET
- Year
- 2026
- Date
- 21 April
- Shift
- Morning Shift
- Subject
- Biology
- Chapter
- Transport in Plants
MHT CET 2026 · 21 April · Morning Shift · Biology · Transport in Plants
Given below are two statements related to the apoplast pathway:...
Given below are two statements related to the apoplast pathway:
Statement (I): When some amount of water passes across the root through the cell wall and the intercellular spaces of cortical cells of root, it is called apoplast pathway.
Statement (II): An additional apoplastic route that allows direct access to the xylem and phloem is along the margins of secondary roots.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
Statement (I): When some amount of water passes across the root through the cell wall and the intercellular spaces of cortical cells of root, it is called apoplast pathway.
Statement (II): An additional apoplastic route that allows direct access to the xylem and phloem is along the margins of secondary roots.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
Options
- ABoth Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
- BBoth Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
- CStatement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
- DStatement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.
Correct answer
A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
Step-by-step solution
Statement (I) is correct: The apoplast pathway involves the movement of water exclusively through the non-living parts of the plant, which include the intercellular spaces and the cell walls. In the root cortex, water moves freely through this pathway because the cortical cells are loosely packed and offer no resistance to water movement.
Statement (II) is correct: The inner boundary of the cortex, the endodermis, usually blocks the apoplastic movement of water into the vascular cylinder due to the presence of the water-impermeable Casparian strip. However, secondary (lateral) roots originate endogenously from the pericycle and grow outward, breaking through the endodermis and cortex. This disruption creates a gap in the Casparian strip along the margins of the emerging secondary roots, providing an additional apoplastic bypass that allows water and solutes direct access to the vascular tissues (xylem and phloem).
Therefore, both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
Answer: Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
Statement (II) is correct: The inner boundary of the cortex, the endodermis, usually blocks the apoplastic movement of water into the vascular cylinder due to the presence of the water-impermeable Casparian strip. However, secondary (lateral) roots originate endogenously from the pericycle and grow outward, breaking through the endodermis and cortex. This disruption creates a gap in the Casparian strip along the margins of the emerging secondary roots, providing an additional apoplastic bypass that allows water and solutes direct access to the vascular tissues (xylem and phloem).
Therefore, both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
Answer: Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.