Radicle
Radicle
Radicle (/ˈrædɪkəl/), from the Latin radicula, a diminutive of radix meaning "root", is the first part of a seedling (a growing plant embryo) to emerge from the seed during the process of germination. The radicle is the embryonic root of the plant, and grows downward in the soil (the shoot emerges from the plumule). It forms the origin of the root system.
Etymology
The term "radicle" originated from the Latin word radicula, which is a diminutive form of radix, meaning "root". The term was first used in English in the late 18th century, in the context of plant physiology.
Function
The radicle is the first organ to emerge from the germinating seed. It allows the seedling to anchor itself in the ground and start absorbing water. After the radicle has established itself, the embryonic shoot, known as the plumule, emerges and grows upwards.
Related Terms
- Embryo: The part of a seed that develops into a plant, consisting of a radicle, a plumule, and one or two cotyledons.
- Germination: The process by which a plant grows from a seed. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm.
- Plumule: The part of a plant embryo that will, when mature, become the shoot bearing the first true leaves of a plant. It is located above the cotyledons, and will eventually become the stem and leaves of the plant.
- Cotyledon: A significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant. Upon germination, the cotyledon usually becomes the embryonic first leaves of a seedling.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Radicle
- Wikipedia's article - Radicle
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski