11.1.1: Root Long Section (Zea mays)

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A long section through a corn root tip with cross sections from each major zone — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): This figure is from a study exploring the expression of a particular mRNA in corn roots (shown as red in the images, but not important to understanding the anatomy). In B, we see a diagram of a longitudinal section through a growing root tip. The region labeled "Meristem" is the Zone of Division, covered by the root cap. The Elongation Zone is were cells get larger, and the region labeled "Hair Zone" is the Zone of Maturation, where cells are clearly differentiated and can start to specialize. D, E, and F show cross sections of the root in these zones. The large gaps in the cross sections are vessel elements, located within the vascular cylinder. Image retrieved from the open-access paper High Expression of the Tonoplast Aquaporin *ZmTIP1*in Epidermal and Conducting Tissues of Maize, Barrieu et al. 1998, published in Plant Physiology.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): A diagram of a growing root tip. The tip of the root is covered by a cap of cells (C). Most of the root is covered by small projections (root hairs). The region of the root with hairs is labeled E. Between the area covered with hairs and the area covered by the cap, the root is labeled D. A=Root hair, B=Root cap, C=Zone of Division, D=Zone of Elongation, E=Zone of Maturation. Image from the public domain with labels added by Maria Morrow.

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Anatomy of the root tip, zone of division. The first image is a *Zea mays* root tip. The second image is an illustrated diagram to show the tissues, labeled as follows: 1=Root apical meristem (RAM), 2=Root cap cell, 3=Rhizodermis (epidermis of the root), 4=Protoderm, 5=Ground Meristem, 6=Procambium. Photo by Maria Morrow, CC BY-NC. Illustration from de:Benutzer:Griensteidl, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Longitudinal section of the zone of maturation in a root — Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): A longitudinal section through the zone of elongation. A=Cortex, B=Pith (or where the pith would be, this section may be slightly off center, capturing more of the vascular tissue), C=A vessel element in the vascular tissue, D=Epidermis, E=Root hair. Image by Maria Morrow, CC BY-NC.