schorsmeristeem

Schorsmeristeem, also known as cork cambium or phellogen, is a secondary meristematic tissue found in the stems and roots of woody plants and some herbaceous dicotyledonous plants. It originates from the dedifferentiation of epidermal or cortical cells. The primary function of schorsmeristeem is to produce secondary tissues that form the periderm, which is the outer protective layer of woody plant organs.

The schorsmeristeem is a thin layer of actively dividing cells. It typically produces new cells outwards, forming cork cells, also known as phellem. These cork cells are dead at maturity and are filled with suberin, a waxy substance that makes them impermeable to water and gases, thus providing protection against desiccation, mechanical injury, and pathogen invasion. Inwardly, the schorsmeristeem produces a layer of parenchyma cells called the phelloderm.

The periderm, composed of cork, cork cambium, and phelloderm, replaces the epidermis as the stem or root grows in diameter. This process of periderm formation is known as secondary growth. Lenticels, which are porous areas in the periderm, develop to allow for gas exchange between the internal tissues and the atmosphere. The activity of the schorsmeristeem is crucial for the long-term survival and structural integrity of woody plant parts.