Water moves toward the Pericycle through passage cells. The roots of plants contain passage cells, which may be found in the endodermis and exodermis layers. Passage cells help in transferring water and mineral salts from the cortex into the xylem.
- These modified endodermal cells allow the transport of water.
- They are thin-walled cells and there is no deposition of suberin.
- Passage cells also allow the transfer of solutes such as magnesium and calcium into the stele.
- Exodermal passage cells have a cytoplasm that helps with ion absorption.
- The pericycle is the outermost portion of the stele that is single-layered or multilayered.
- It is found in the monocot root that gives rise to the vascular cambium and cork cambium as well as the dicot root.
- Passage cells are also called transfusion cells.
The functions of a pericycle include -
- As they are thick-walled, they give mechanical support to the plants.
- Pericycle acts as a storage organ when it is made up of parenchymatous cells.
- In dicot roots, the Pericycle forms a part of the cambial ring that gives rise to the secondary tissues.
So the correct answer is option A) transport of water towards pericycle.
Note: Pericycle tissue belongs to the ground tissue system. It is a fundamental tissue system. This tissue system also includes the cortex (below the epidermis), and pith (also known as the medulla).