On the Correlation between the Endodermis Differentiation and the Water Absorption in the Crown Roots of Rice Plant

The experiments on the water absorption in the different parts of the root of rice plant were carried out, with specially designed micropotometers (Fig. 1). The results obtained show that the water absorbing capacity in the different parts were different, and the most active absorbing zone came between root tip and the part where the first lateral root emerged. The microscopical observation has shown, within this limit, that the differentiation of the endodermis was in the state of casparian dot stage. Furthermore, the differentiation of the xylem vessel in the stele also keep intimate correlation with the differentiation of the endodermis (Fig. 21). Taking in view the results obtained, it is suggested that the stage of the differentiation of the endodermis in a root can be used to detect the zonal differentiation of water absorption.