Suberizado

Suberizado is a term used in botany to describe plant tissues that have become suberized. Suberization is a process by which cells develop a layer of suberin, a complex waxy substance, in their cell walls. This suberin layer is deposited on the inner tangential wall of the cell and often surrounds the cell lumen. The accumulation of suberin makes the cell wall impermeable to water and gases, forming a barrier.

This process is particularly common in the endodermis of plant roots, where the Casparian strip, a band of suberin, regulates the movement of water and solutes into the vascular cylinder. Suberization also occurs in periderm tissues, such as cork, which form protective outer layers on stems and roots of woody plants. This layer of suberized cells helps to prevent water loss and protect the plant from mechanical injury and pathogen invasion.

The formation of suberin is often triggered by environmental stress, such as drought or wounding, and plays a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms and water regulation. Tissues that have undergone suberization are generally tough and resistant to decay. The presence of suberin is a key characteristic of many protective and structural tissues in plants.