root mucilage is made of plant-specific polysaccharides or long chains of sugar molecules. this polysaccharide secretion of root exudate forms a gelatinous substance that sticks to the caps of roots. root mucilage is known to play a role in forming relationships with soil-dwelling life forms. just how this root mucilage is secreted is debated, but there is growing evidence that mucilage derives from ruptured cells. as roots penetrate through the soil, many of the cells surrounding the caps of roots are continually shed and replaced. these ruptured or lysed cells release their component parts, which include the polysaccharides that form root mucilage. these polysaccharides come from the golgi apparatus and plant cell wall, which are rich in plant-specific polysaccharides. unlike animal cells, plant cells have a cell wall that acts as a barrier surrounding the cell providing strength, which supports plants just like a skeleton.