elect incorrect statement about absorption and movement of water

Options

A. The apoplastic water movement beyond the cortex is blocked by the casparian strip present in the endodermis
B. beyond endodermis, water is forced to move through the cell membranes and cytoplasm
C. cortex offers considerable resistance in movement of water
D. symplast comprises the network of cytoplasm of all cells inter-connected by plasmodesmata

Answer

To solve the question of selecting the incorrect statement about the absorption and movement of water in plants, we will analyze each statement provided in the question. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

### Step 1: Understand the Statements
We need to evaluate the four statements regarding water absorption and movement in plants. The statements are as follows:
1. The apoplastic water movement beyond the cortex is blocked by the Casparian strip present in the endodermis.
2. Beyond the endodermis, water is forced to move through the cell membrane in the cytoplasm.
3. Cortex offers considerable resistance in water movement.
4. Symplast comprises the network of cytoplasm of all cells interconnected by plasmodesmata.

### Step 2: Analyze Each Statement
1. **Statement 1**: This statement is correct. The Casparian strip does block apoplastic movement beyond the cortex, forcing water to enter the symplastic pathway.

2. **Statement 2**: This statement is also correct. After the endodermis, water must move through the cell membrane and cytoplasm due to the presence of the Casparian strip.

3. **Statement 3**: This statement is incorrect. The cortex consists of loosely packed cells that do not offer considerable resistance to water movement. In fact, they facilitate easier movement of water.

4. **Statement 4**: This statement is correct. The symplast is indeed a network of cytoplasm of all cells interconnected by plasmodesmata, allowing for water movement between cells.

### Step 3: Identify the Incorrect Statement
From the analysis, we can conclude that the incorrect statement is:
**Statement 3: Cortex offers considerable resistance in water movement.**

### Final Answer
The incorrect statement about absorption and movement of water is **Statement 3**.

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