A strip of secondary meristem located in the cortex of older plants forms cork tissue, which constitutes the outer protective layer. This process is known as cork cambium activity.
What process leads to the formation of cork tissue in the outer protective layer of a plant?
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The formation of cork tissue in the outer protective layer of a plant is called cork cambium activity or phellogen activity. This process involves the activity of a specialized lateral meristem called the cork cambium or phellogen. The cork cambium produces cells toward the outside, known as cork or phellem cells, and toward the inside, known as phelloderm cells. As cork cells accumulate, they undergo suberization, depositing a hydrophobic substance called suberin in their cell walls, making them impermeable to water. This forms the protective cork tissue, providing the plant with a durable and water-resistant outer layer known as the periderm or bark.
The process that leads to the formation of cork tissue in the outer protective layer of a plant is called cork cambium activity, or phellogen activity. Cork cambium is a type of lateral meristem (a meristem is a tissue responsible for plant growth) found in the cortex of woody plants. It is responsible for producing cork cells towards the outside and phelloderm cells towards the inside.
As the cork cambium divides, it produces layers of cells externally, forming the cork or bark of the plant. These cork cells are dead at maturity and contain suberin, a waxy substance that makes them impermeable to water and resistant to decay and mechanical damage. This process gradually leads to the formation of a protective outer layer, which helps to prevent water loss, protect against pathogens, and provide structural support for the plant.