Final answer:
Desert plants either have a deep taproot system for accessing moisture deep underground or a wide fibrous root system for capturing surface moisture. Taproots provide stability and access to deeper water, whereas fibrous roots capture moisture immediately after rainfalls and help in anchoring the plant and preventing soil erosion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Desert plants have developed specialized root systems to adapt to the harsh desert environment. Taproots, like those that can extend 20-30 feet underground, allow plants to access deep water sources that are not available to those on the surface. These long taproots provide stability and enable the plant to reach moisture in deeper soil layers that remain after several rainfalls. On the other hand, fibrous root systems spread out over a wide area near the soil surface.
This adaptation is beneficial because it captures surface moisture efficiently, which is important after light rainfalls that only moisten the top layer of soil. These fibrous roots also provide additional structural support that helps to anchor the plant in the desert, and their wide network can help minimize soil erosion.
However, there are some statements that need to be corrected here:
- A taproot system, such as that of carrots, has a single main root that grows down, and this system is typical of dicots.
- A fibrous root system, such as that found in wheat, forms a dense network of roots that is closer to the soil surface and is commonly found in monocots.
Therefore, option a from your choices best compares the advantages of both root systems in the desert environment.