Resistance to water flow in the root cortex is higher for

Options

A. apoplastic pathway
B. symplastic pathway
C. both have the same
D. None

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Water Flow in Roots:**
- Water moves from root hairs to the xylem through the root cortex. This movement can occur via two main pathways: the apoplastic pathway and the symplastic pathway.

2. **Defining the Pathways:**
- **Apoplastic Pathway:** This pathway involves the movement of water through the cell walls and intercellular spaces. It is characterized by the absence of living cell components in the pathway, which allows for a faster flow of water.
- **Symplastic Pathway:** In this pathway, water moves from the cytoplasm of one cell to the cytoplasm of another through plasmodesmata (small channels that connect plant cells). This pathway involves living cell components, which can create more resistance to water flow.

3. **Comparing Resistance in Both Pathways:**
- The apoplastic pathway has low resistance because water moves freely through cell walls and intercellular spaces without encountering living cell components.
- The symplastic pathway has higher resistance due to the presence of cell membranes and plasmodesmata that water must pass through, which can slow down the flow of water.

4. **Conclusion:**
- Since the question asks where the resistance to water flow in the root cortex is higher, we conclude that the resistance is higher in the **symplastic pathway**.

5. **Final Answer:**
- The correct option is the **symplastic pathway**.

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