{"id":5063,"date":"2021-06-16T14:10:29","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T14:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/?p=5063"},"modified":"2022-03-07T19:58:52","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T19:58:52","slug":"symplastic-vs-apoplastic-pathway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/symplastic-vs-apoplastic-pathway\/","title":{"rendered":"Difference between Symplast and Apoplast Pathways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Apoplast and symplast are two pathways used by water to travel from the root hair cells to the xylem of the root. They are very much the same but they too differ in many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);background-color:#ecf2f7;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-toggle-icon-style-basiccircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-toggle-icon-style-basiccircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-toggle-icon-style-arrowcircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-toggle-icon-style-arrowcircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-toggle-icon-style-xclosecircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id6113_3b9ebd-8c .kb-toggle-icon-style-xclosecircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before{background-color:#ecf2f7;}<\/style>\n\n\n<p>The difference, as well as the similarities between Apoplast and symplast will be discussed in this article. (1, 2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/apoplastic-pathway-and-the-symplastic-pathway-image-diagram.jpg\" alt=\"apoplastic pathway and the symplastic pathway image diagram\" class=\"wp-image-5071\" width=\"405\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/apoplastic-pathway-and-the-symplastic-pathway-image-diagram.jpg 495w, https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/apoplastic-pathway-and-the-symplastic-pathway-image-diagram-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">(The apoplastic pathway and the symplastic pathway as shown in the diagram above)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apoplast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It pertains to the non-protoplasmic spaces of plants. It consists of the cell wall and intracellular spaces. In the root cortex, Apoplast is used to move the water to the xylem and then absorbed by the root hair cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The direction is called the apoplastic pathway. It does not have the ability to cross cytoplasmic membranes, which causes the water to move through passive diffusion. In other words, it is least resistant to the movement of water. (1, 2, and 3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Apoplast-pathway-Diagram.jpg\" alt=\"Apoplast (Apoplastic) pathway Diagram\" class=\"wp-image-5070\" width=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Apoplast-pathway-Diagram.jpg 843w, https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Apoplast-pathway-Diagram-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Apoplast-pathway-Diagram-768x474.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 843px) 100vw, 843px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">(The apoplastic pathway as explained in the above image.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symplast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It pertains to the protoplasmic part of the plant. The cell\u2019s protoplasm is connected by plasmodesmata; a cell junction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/symplastic-symplast-pathway-Diagram.jpg\" alt=\"symplastic (symplast) pathway Diagram\" class=\"wp-image-5073\" width=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/symplastic-symplast-pathway-Diagram.jpg 600w, https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/symplastic-symplast-pathway-Diagram-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">(The Symplast is the inner part of the plasma membrane that enables the water and solute to diffuse freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_fe59d8-87, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_fe59d8-87[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_fe59d8-87\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_fe59d8-87 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_fe59d8-87[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_fe59d8-87\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading_fe59d8-87 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_fe59d8-87\">What is the use of the symplast of the root cortex?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is significant for moving water from the root hair cells to the root\u2019s xylem. The direction by which the water moves is known as the symplastic pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the said pathway, the water moves in the cell\u2019s cytoplasm through the plasma membrane enabling it to cross the cell membranes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The water moves through the process called osmosis. The symplastic pathway is also called the transmembrane pathway because of the water\u2019s ability to cross the cell membrane. (3, 4, and 5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1623847919176\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What are the similarities between Apoplast and symplast?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>&#8211;<\/strong> They are both routes wherein the water moves from the root hair cells to the xylem.<br \/><strong>&#8211;<\/strong> They both take place in the root cortex.<br \/><strong>&#8211;<\/strong> They both carry water and nutrients to the xylem. (4, 5, 6, and 7)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The table below shows the differences between Apoplast and symplast.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fafafa\"><tbody><tr><td><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong>Point of comparison<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Apoplast<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Symplast<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Meaning\/ definition <\/strong><\/td><td>It pertains to the non-protoplasmic part of the plant such as intracellular spaces and cell wall.<\/td><td>It pertains to the network of protoplast of plants, which are interlinked by plasmodesmata.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Components\/composition<\/strong><\/td><td>Non-protoplasmic components: cell wall and intracellular spaces.<\/td><td>Protoplast<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Living\/non-living <\/strong><\/td><td>It is primarily consists of the plant\u2019s non-living parts.<\/td><td>It consists of the living components of the plant.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Movement of water<\/strong><\/td><td>Passive diffusion<\/td><td>Osmosis<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ability to resist the movement of water <\/strong><\/td><td>Less resistant to the movement of water.<\/td><td>Resistant to the movement of water.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Water movement speed <\/strong><\/td><td>Rapid water movement<\/td><td>Slow water movement<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Root\u2019s metabolic state <\/strong><\/td><td>The cell\u2019s metabolic rate in the root cortex has no effect in the movement of water.<\/td><td>The cell\u2019s metabolic rate in the root cortex greatly affects the movement of water.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Importance <\/strong><\/td><td>It is helpful for the root\u2019s secondary growth.<\/td><td>Its role goes beyond the cortex. (7, 8, 9, and 10)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The plant uses these two routes to transport water from the root hair cells to the xylem. The primary differences between Apoplast and symplast are their mechanisms of water movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><em>https:\/\/pediaa.com\/difference-between-apoplast-and-symplast\/<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apoplast<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/www.majordifferences.com\/2013\/12\/difference-between-apoplast-and.html#.XR4bWy2B1N0<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/www.vedantu.com\/biology\/apoplast<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/byjus.com\/biology\/apoplast\/<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/www.difference.wiki\/apoplast-transport-vs-symplast-transport\/<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/quizlet.com\/283750752\/apoplastic-vs-symplastic-pathway-flash-cards\/<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/agricultural-and-biological-sciences\/symplast<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/en.wikibooks.org\/wiki\/A-level_Biology\/Transport\/multicellular_plants<\/em><\/li><li><em>https:\/\/passel.unl.edu\/pages\/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1057703469&amp;topicorder=3&amp;maxto=6&amp;minto=1<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Apoplast and symplast are two pathways used by water to travel from the root hair cells to the xylem of the root. They are very much the same but they too differ in many ways. The difference, as well as the similarities between Apoplast and symplast will be discussed in this article. (1, 2) (The&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[167],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5063"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratoryinfo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}