Endodermis Casparian strip Symplastic and transmembrane pathways Pericycle Xylem Cortex Phloem Epidermis Apoplast pathway FIGURE 4.3 Pathways for water uptake by the root.Through the cortex,water may travel via the apoplast pathway,the transmembrane pathway,and the symplast pathway.In the symplast pathway,water flows between cells through the plasmod esmata without crossing the plasma membrane.In the transmembrane pathway, water moves across the plasma membranes,with a short visit to the cell wall space. At the endodermis,the apoplast pathway is blocked by the Casparian strip