Let me share with you a comparison between Apoplast and Symplast Pathway.
| Aspect | Apoplast Pathway | Symplast Pathway |
| Introduction | Movement of water and solutes through the non-living components of the plant, such as cell walls and intercellular spaces. | Movement of water and solutes through the living components of the plant, through interconnected cytoplasm of cells. |
| Components | · Cell walls · Intercellular spaces · Extracellular matrix | · Cytoplasmic network formed by plasmodesmata |
| Barrier to Movement | Limited by the hydrophobic nature of cell walls, which may slow down or restrict the movement of hydrophilic substances. | Unimpeded movement within the symplastic pathway due to the direct connection of the cytoplasm across plant cells. |
| Movement of water | Water moves through cell walls and intercellular spaces, facilitated by capillary action and cohesion-adhesion forces. | Water moves through the interconnected cytoplasm via osmosis and bulk flow facilitated by aquaporins. |
| Solutes Movement | Solutes move along the cell walls and may follow concentration gradients, but face obstacles like the Casparian strip in roots. | Solutes move through plasmodesmata, allowing for direct cell-to-cell transport without facing obstacles like the Casparian strip. |
| Importance | Plays a role in initial water uptake from the soil and short-distance transport within the plant. | Essential for long-distance transport within the plant and communication between different plant cells and tissues. |
| Examples | · Root uptake of water from the soil · Initial movement of water in the xylem. | · Phloem transport of sugars and nutrients · Movement of water through the living cells of the plant |