Final answer:
Water flows between root cells and the xylem through the apoplastic and symplastic pathways, driven by transpiration and water potential differentials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water flows between root cells and the xylem through two main routes: apoplastic and symplastic pathways. In the apoplastic pathway, water moves through the cell walls and intercellular spaces, including the xylem.
In the symplastic pathway, water moves through the cytoplasm via plasmodesmata, which are small channels that connect adjacent cells. Once inside the xylem, water flows through the tissue via bulk flow, driven by transpiration and water potential differentials.