Similarities between Apoplast and Symplast Pathway

Difference between Apoplast and Symplast Pathway

The apoplast vs symplast pathways are discussed below....

What is Apoplast?

The apoplast can be defined as the intercellular space between cell membranes filled with gas and water. It also includes the interfibrillar and intermicellar space of the cell walls, and the xylem extending to the rhizoplane and cuticle of the outer plant surface. German scientist E. Münch first coined the term ‘apoplast’ in 1930. Apoplast performs several functions which includes nutrient and water transport, cellulose synthesis, and the synthesis of molecules involved in plant defense against both biotic and abiotic stresses. The molecules present in apoplast include reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants, proteins, and hormones....

What is Symplast?

The symplast is considered as the inner living part of the plant bounded by the plasma membranes. It comprises a complete network of cytoplasm of plant cells connected by plasmodesmata. The symplast lacks cell walls and intercellular spaces. It plays an important role in the transport of water and other low-molecular-weight solutes, such as sugars, amino acids, and ions, between cells. The path created by the symplast is known as the symplastic pathway. Priestley in 1949 observed the active and passive transport of water in plants and first coined the term ‘symplastic pathway’....

Water Transport in Plants Through Apoplast and Symplast

The two major compartments of plant tissues involved in the transport of water and minerals are the apoplast and the symplast. The apoplast includes cell walls, extracellular spaces, xylem, phloem, and tracheids which are present outside of the plasma membrane. On the other hand, the symplast consists of the entire cytosol of all living plant cells and the plasmodesmata, the cytoplasmic channels interconnecting the cells....

Similarities between Apoplast and Symplast Pathway

The apoplast and symplast are two distinct pathways, but there are some similarities between these two pathways which are as follows:...

Conclusion – Differences between Apoplast and Symplast Pathway

Apoplast and symplast pathways are different routes for transporting water and solutes in plants. There are various differences between Apoplast and Symplast Pathway. Apoplast involves passive transport by diffusion driven by hydrostatic pressure, while symplast involves active transport via osmosis due to water gradient variations. Apoplast is crucial for absorbing water and nutrients from soil, transporting them via xylem from roots to shoots. Whereas symplast helps in distributing water, nutrients, and signaling molecules from leaves to the entire plant via phloem....

FAQs on Apoplast and Symplast Pathway

Which is Faster Symplast or the Apoplast Pathway?...