Apoplastic pathway- can occur if the hypodermis is absent. Water goes through cell walls and intercellular spaces. As the water flows, solutes move with the flow or by diffusion. This pathway is very efficient. Symplastic pathway- occurs if the hypodermis is present.
Water goes through cellular membranes and living cells.
Water moves by osmosis, so solutes can move from cell to cell via plasmodesmata. This is a slower process than via apoplastic pathway.