Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) Root Hairs

In this time-lapse clip we see the radicle (embryonic root) emerging from a germinating seed and growing downward into the soil.

Next we see the development of root hairs, the thin elongations of root epidermis cells which extend into the soil. These root hairs are essential for water and nutrient uptake as they extend the surface area through which interact with the soil.

The final part of the movie shows the root hairs under the microscope, filmed with a 25X objective with differential interference contrast. The cytoplasmic streaming a clearly visible.

part of the Soil in Action Project in collaboration with Gerlinde De Deyn

© Wim van Egmond 2024