The apoplastic pathway or also known as the nonliving pathways provides direction to the vascular stele through the open spaces and cell walls of the epidermis and cortex. Additionally, the apoplastic pathway allows direct access to xylem and phloem along secondary root margins. Secondary roots formed from the pericycle, a cell layer located just inside the endodermis. The endoderm is characterized by the Casparian strip, a band of cell wall material deposited in the radial and transverse walls of the endoderm to move through the symplast to enter the vascular system. Say no to plagiarism. Get Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay Since secondary roots grow through the endodermis, a direct pathway to the xylem and phloem is available, which bypasses the Casparian strip and allows herbicides to enter. the vascular system without moving into the symplast or also called nonliving pathways. It is one of the two main water transport pathways in plants, the other being the symplastic pathway. During apoplastic transport, water and minerals flow upward via the apoplast to the root xylem.[7] The concentration of solutes transported in the aerial organs is established by a combination of import from the xylem, uptake by cells, and export by the phloem. The transport speed is higher in the apoplast than in the symplast. This mode of transport also accounts for a higher proportion of water transport in plant tissues than symplastic transport. The apoplastic pathway is also involved in passive exclusion. Some of the ions that enter through the roots do not reach the xylem. Ions are excluded by the plasma membranes of endodermal cells. Water and solutes from the soil could move through the cell walls of the cortical cells to the endodermis, where they would pass through the plasma membrane of the endodermal cells. Water would pass through via aquaporins and solutes via ion channels or transporters. This is possible in roots without suberized hypodermis and when the endodermis is at the primary stage of development. Entry of anions into the deeper layers of the cortex is likely to be limited by the charge repulsion of dissociated negative carboxyl groups in the cell walls. In general, cations also pass through cell walls more easily than anions, particularly if many of the carboxyl groups in the cell walls are not occupied by Ca2+ ions. Nevertheless, apoplastic water flow through roots can sustain significant ion fluxes during periods of high transpiration. It is likely that most of the soil water absorbed by the plant moves into the apoplast through the cortex, but solutes are absorbed through the epidermis. or outer cortical cells, then move into the symplasm through the cortex. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay When the endoderm is suberized, water and solutes cannot penetrate from the apoplast. and instead they are taken up by adjacent cortical cells and move via plasmodesmata into the endodermis..