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## Uptake of water and mineral salts by the roots Root hairs play an important role in the absorption of water and mineral salts into the plant. The water in the soil contains less dissolved substances (solutes) than the cell sap in the vacuoles of the root hairs. The water potential of the water...

## Uptake of water and mineral salts by the roots Root hairs play an important role in the absorption of water and mineral salts into the plant. The water in the soil contains less dissolved substances (solutes) than the cell sap in the vacuoles of the root hairs. The water potential of the water in the soil is higher than the potential of the cell sap.  The diagram illustrates the absorption of water from the soil into the root hair. The red arrow indicates the movement of water from the soil into the root hair, while the blue arrow indicates the water potential of the soil. The water potential of the soil is higher than the water potential of the cell sap, so the water moves from the soil into the root hair.