what is apoplast?

1.	what is apoplast?
Answer» 1. Within a plant, apoplast is the space lying outside the plasma membrane consisting of intercellular spaces along with cell wall. 2. The major part of water & ions are transported by apoplastic pathway in the root cortex as cortical cells are packed loosely and offers low resistance to the flow of water. 3. The apoplastic route is blocked by a Casparian strip of endodermal cells. Hence, the symplastic route is utilized to deliver water and ion over cortex. 4. Since apoplast is made up of non-living components, the apoplastic route is least affected by the metabolic state of the root. Within a plant, the apoplast is the space outside the plasma membrane within which material can diffuse freely. It is interrupted by the Casparian strip in roots, by air spaces between plant cells and by the plant cuticle.

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