Do roots respire? Explain.

During respiration in plants, very little transport of gases takes place from one plant part to another. Therefore, each plant part takes care of its own energy needs, or in other words, its gas exchange need. Roots, stems andleaves of plants exchange gases for respiration separately. We already know, leaves of plants have tiny pores called stomata, which is used for the exchange of gases. The oxygen, taken in through stomata is used by the cells in the leaves to break down glucose into carbon dioxide and water.

Similarly, roots of plants take in air from the air spaces present between the soil particles. Thus, the oxygen absorbed through roots are used to release energy. And energy is utilised for the transport of minerals and salts from the soil.We are aware of the fact that plants have the unique ability to photosynthesise. <a href="http://byjus.com/biology/photosynthesis/">Photosynthesis</a>is the process through which plants prepare their own food. It takes place only in the parts of plants that contain chlorophyll, i.e. only in the green parts of the plants. The process of photosynthesis is so prominent that it sometimes masks the process of respiration in plants. However, we must know that respiration in plants occurs throughout the day while photosynthesis takes place only in the presence of light. Therefore, at night the respiration in plants becomes prominent. That is why we often hear that people are asked not to sleep under a tree at night . This may cause suffocation due to the excessive presence of carbon dioxide released by trees as a result of respiration.