Root pressure can be responsible for

Options

A. pushing up water to small heights in the stem.
B. active transport of various ions into the vascular tissues of the roots
C. absorption of water into the vascular tissues of the roots
D. development of transpiration pull

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Root Pressure**: Root pressure is a phenomenon that occurs in plants where water is pushed upward from the roots into the stem. This pressure is generated by the accumulation of solutes (like minerals) in the root cells, which causes water to move into the roots through osmosis.

2. **Mechanism of Root Pressure**: When solutes are actively transported into the root cells, it creates a higher concentration of solutes inside the roots compared to the surrounding soil. Water then follows these solutes into the roots due to osmosis, increasing the volume of water in the root cells.

3. **Pressure Build-up**: As more water enters the roots, it creates a positive pressure within the xylem vessels (the tubes that transport water). This pressure can push water upward, but it is generally effective only for small heights in the stem.

4. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Pushing up water to small heights in the stem**: This is correct. Root pressure can indeed push water upward, but only to a limited height.
- **Active transport of various ions into the vascular tissue of the roots**: This is incorrect. While ions are actively transported, root pressure itself is not responsible for this process.
- **Absorption of water into the vascular tissue of the roots**: This is also incorrect. While water is absorbed, root pressure specifically refers to the upward movement of water, not the absorption process itself.
- **Development of transpiration pull**: This is incorrect. Transpiration pull is a separate mechanism driven by water loss from the leaves, not directly related to root pressure.

5. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is that root pressure can be responsible for pushing up water to small heights in the stem.