Roots of Blueberry

Roots of Blueberry
The highbush blueberry has two major types of roots:
1. Pencil-thick storage and anchor roots
2. Fine thread like roots, often only 50 um in diameter

The latter are the feeder roots responsible for nutrient absorption.

The roots are composed of a thin root cap covering the apical meristem.

The cap is somewhat mucilaginous and aids the root’s penetration of the soil while protecting the maristematic tissue.

The meristem tissue undergoes rapid cell division and is responsible in part for adding new cells to the root.

The root structure 12-25 mm behind the apex shows a homogenous cortical region of 3-4 cell layers about 40 um thick.

The cells are simple parenchyma and alternate with one another in successive concentrate layers.

The cortex is surrounded by a poorly developed epidermal layer of symmetrical cell, the outer surfaces of which are convex.

The cortex itself surrounds a single layer of cells called the endodermis, beneath which lies the vascular cylinder, composed of the vascular system and associated parenchyma.

This inner cylinder, also called the stele, is about 30 um in diameter. The blueberry root has no root hairs.

The anatomy of older roots is similar to that of the stem.
Roots of Blueberry