Question

What are apoplast and symplast?

Answer 1

Hint:
The movement of water in plants occurs via different pathways according to the convenience. The cell sap has different consistency of cytoplasm in different regions. So types of transport can be either active or passive. They might require the energy to pass through certain cell walls.

Complete answer:
Apoplast: The non-protoplasmic components of the plant from the apoplast. It has a cell wall and intercellular spaces. It does the passive transport that is without the expenditure of energy.
Symplast: It includes the protoplasmic components of the plant. They are connected by plasmodesmata. It does active transport as water first enters cell sap and then flows from one cell to another.
Apoplast transport/pathway is faster than the symplast pathway as the metabolic state of the root will not affect the apoplast route.
Both the terms were coined by E. Munch in 1930.
Plasmodesma or plasmodesmata is a channel that enables communication and transport between cells.
The basic difference between the two pathways is the position of the passage. The apoplast in between the intercellular spaces and cell walls. While the symplast is through the protoplast of the root.
Water and ions move from root to other parts that mean they move in an upward direction through apoplast to the xylem.

Note:
Casparian strip is a barrier in an apoplastic way. It is in the endodermis of the root. It is a barrier between vascular tissues and outer ground tissues. It is a marker for a fine functioning of endodermis. It acts as a junction in the flow of water and ions.