Final answer:
The embryonic root, or radicle, will develop into the root system with the help of the root cap, and undergoes growth through distinct zones of cell division, elongation, and maturation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tip of the embryo that will develop into the root system is protected by the root cap. This is a unique structure exclusive to roots, which serves to protect the root tip as the plant grows. The radicle is the embryonic root from which the entire root system will develop. During the process of seed germination, the radicle emerges first from the seed coat, which then grows through cell division and elongation to form the mature root system.
There are three zones at the root tip: a zone of cell division consisting of the root meristem, a zone of elongation where cells grow in length, and a zone of maturation and differentiation where cells begin to take on their specialized functions. The root growth and anatomy are essential for understanding how a plant’s root system develops from a tiny embryo to a fully functionally root capable of supporting the plant.