Where does the water needed for photosynthesis enter the plant?

Where does the water needed for photosynthesis enter the plant?

• A. Stomata
• B. Xylem
• C. Root hairs
• D. Phloem

Answer: (C)

Water needed for photosynthesis enters the plant through the root hairs, tiny extensions of root epidermal cells that dramatically increase soil contact area and allow water to move into root cells by osmosis. From there, water travels through the root cortex into the xylem and is carried upward to the leaves where it participates in photosynthesis and helps maintain turgor. Stomata are leaf pores that regulate gas exchange and water loss, not the entry point for soil water. Phloem transports sugars, not water uptake from the soil.

Water needed for photosynthesis enters the plant through the root hairs, tiny extensions of root epidermal cells that dramatically increase soil contact area and allow water to move into root cells by osmosis. From there, water travels through the root cortex into the xylem and is carried upward to the leaves where it participates in photosynthesis and helps maintain turgor. Stomata are leaf pores that regulate gas exchange and water loss, not the entry point for soil water. Phloem transports sugars, not water uptake from the soil.