Question

Discuss the role of cambium in secondary growth of dicot stems.

Answer 1

Secondary growth is the characteristic of dicot roots and stems. It can be defined as the increase in thickness or girth due to the formation of the secondary tissue, which is formed by the activity of cambium and cork cambium. The cambium forms secondary tissues in the stelar region and cork cambium forms secondary tissues into the cortical regions. The secondary growth starts with the division of vascular cambium. This leads to the production of two cells. Out of which one turns into secondary phloem cell to the outside of the stem or secondary xylem cell inside the stem. This leads to the growth of bark. while, the other cell remains undifferentiated. Division of this undifferentiated cell causes the process to repeat continuously. Bark consists of all the tissue layers outside the vascular cambium. It includes secondary phloem, cork, cork cambium and periderm.