Will a plant with severed roots, survive in ample sunlight
Answers
Because it is not visible like the treetop, a tree's root system is not given the appreciation it warrants. This configuration of underground tentacles is the source of health or illness for the tree, and when winds buffet the tree, it serves as an anchor. The root system of a mature oak tree can total hundreds of miles. An oak's chief support, the taproot, grows vertically for some distance before branching out.
Understanding Root Systems
At the beginning of an oak's life, when an acorn first sprouts, most of its energy is spent on root development, with little growth aboveground. The initial root is the taproot, which grows deep underground, seeking a dependable supply of moisture. Once this is accomplished, greater foliage and branch growth can begin. Soon the taproot is surpassed by an extensive root system spreading horizontally. This lateral mass of roots will bring the tree moisture and nutrients for its lifetime. Most oak tree roots lie only 18 inches under the soil. They may spread, though, to occupy a space four to seven times the width of the tree's crown. Root hairs, located just back from the tips of the smaller roots, absorb water and minerals and send them circulating through the root system. When two trees of the same species grow side by side, they can even share root systems that have grafted together.
Dangers to Oak Roots
The greatest threats to the health of an oak tree's root system include poor drainage, trenching nearby and paving. If an oak is not in a site with adequate drainage, the balance of moisture, air and nutrients is upset. Overwatering or too much rainfall can smother the roots and lead to crown or root rot. Structural barriers, like concrete foundations, streets or even swimming pools downhill from oaks, can dam water, forcing it into the root zone of a tree. Digging a trench to install utilities too close to an oak can sever a portion of the roots and weaken the tree. Asphalt or concrete paving nearby may compact the soil and impede the exchange of gases, thereby damaging the roots.
Answer:
No, a plant without the roots will not survive even after keeping in an environment with ample sunlight.
Explanation:
The key ingredients for photosynthesis are sunlight, water, chlorophyll and Carbon dioxide of the air. Although chlorophyll is synthesized naturally by the green leaves and carbon dioxide is also available directly from the air, the roots of the plants absorb water and minerals from the soil, without which photosynthesis cannot take place. So a plant with severed roots will not survive as water will not be able to reach the plants and thus, photosynthesis will not occur.