Vascular cambium

Primary and 2nd growth

Dicot and monocot stem
2nd GR in dicot stem
Interstellar and extra-stellar growth
Annual rings, wood, bark and lenticels
Primary growth and secondary growth
• Primary growth
• Cells of Apical meristem divide and differentiate leading to the
development of primary tissues resulting from an increase in the
length of the plant that further helps in the primary growth of the
plant.
• Secondary growth
• Secondary meristem also called lateral meristem divide and
differentiates resulting in the formation of secondary tissue that in
turn increases the girth (width) of a plant.
Secondary growth in dicot and monocot
• Normally secondary growth takes place in the roots and stem of
dicots & Gymnosperms.

• Due to the lack of cambium in monocots, secondary growth is absent.

Also, the xylem and phloem are found in paired bundles and are
scattered throughout the stem like grasses. But exceptionally
secondary, growth takes place in some monocots called abnormal
secondary growth such as Palm, Yucca, Dracaena, Smilax, Agave,
Coconut, etc.
Dicot stem vs monocot stem
 Secondary growth in dicot stem
• The secondary growth in the dicot stem is studied under two parts namely
• A) Intrastelar secondary growth
B) Extrastelar secondary growth
Before we actually studied the above concept let us know about Stele
Stele: refers to the central cylinder present in the root and stem and is enclosed by
the endodermis
A) Intrastelar secondary growth: occurs in the stele due to the formation of vascular
cambium
B) Extrastelar secondary growth: occurs outside the stele due to the formation of
the cork cambium
 Cambium
Meristematic tissue responsible for lateral (outward) growth in plants is known
as cambium. There are two kinds of cambium in woody plants
The first type is the vascular cambium found in the center of the stem; its
division produces the plant's secondary vascular tissue (xylem and phloem
cells.)
In the outer ring or near the epidermis the bark of a woody plant also contains a
cambium called secondary cambium or cork cambium, which creates cork
cells of the outer layer and is responsible to give rise the bark
Intrastelar secondary growth
It is again studied under two heading
1) Formation of vascular cambium
2)Activity of vascular cambium
Formation of vascular cambium:
The vascular bundle comprises the xylem and phloem in a bundle and in the case
of the dicot stem these are conjoint, collateral, and open type i.e. cambium cells
are present in between the xylem and phloem cells. A cambium that is present
inside the vascular bundle is called intrafascicular cambium. This is a type of
primary meristem. When plants become mature then secondary growth starts and
the first step of secondary growth is the formation of the cambial ring.
• For this first of all the cells of medullary rays present in between the vascular
bundles become meristematic to form Interfascicular cambium which is a
secondary lateral meristem. Interfascicular cambium the meristematic cells
present outside the vascular bundle and these cells are developed from the
medullary cells. Intrafascicular and Interfascicular cambia are collectively known
as vascular cambial rings. The vascular cambium is formed in the form of a
complete ring which is made up of a single layer of cells. In the dicot stem some
part of the vascular cambium is primary and some part is secondary. Two types
of cells are found in the ring of this vascular cambium.
 2)Activity of vascular cambium
• Two types of cells are found in the ring of this vascular cambium.

• (i) Fusiform initials long, pointed ends and more in numbers

• It shows periclinal division results in the formation of two layers of cell outer and inner.

• Outer layer form secondary phloem (due to secondary growth)

• Next to the secondary phloem, the primary phloem is pushed outward and crushed

• On the inner side this fusiform initial forms secondary xylem, pushing the primary xylem
inwards and remaining more or less intact.

• The secondary xylem is 8 to 10 times more than secondary phloem.

• (ii) Ray initials

• oval or rounded in shape.

• Also shows periclinal division forming parenchymatous cells on both

the outer and inner sides.

• These parenchymatous cells form the medullary rays( secondary

medullary rays)

• The function of the medullary is the radial conduction of minerals

water and food.
a) Formation of vascular cambium
b) Activity of vascular cambium
 Formation of annual ring
• The activity of the vascular cambium is not uniform throughout the year and its
activity is affected by physiological and environmental factors.
• The vascular cambium is more active during the spring season and less active
during the winter season or autumn.
The greater the climatic variation more clear the annual ring are seen
hence these rings are more clear in temperate regions than in tropical
areas.
• Heartwood and sapwood
• Heartwood:(duramen) It is the central, hard, dead, dark-coloured,
non-functional part of the secondary xylem of old trees.
• - The dark colour is due to deposition of organic compounds (tannins,
resins, oils, gums, aromatic substances, essential oils etc).
• - These substances make it hard, durable and resistant to the attacks
of microorganisms and insects.
Function: It gives mechanical support to the stem.
• Sapwood:(Alburnum) It is the peripheral region of the secondary
xylem. It is living and lighter in colour.
Function: Conduct water and minerals from root to leaf
Heartwood vs sapwood
Types of wood
• On the basis of the amount of parenchyma
• Manoxylic wood: such type of wood that contain more living
parenchyma is called manoxylic wood. E.g. wood of cycas
• Pycnoxylic wood: such type of wood contains less living parenchyma
and is called pycnoxylic wood. E.g. wood of pinus.
• Classification based on vessels
• On the 'basis of the presence or absence of vessels, wood is classified
into two categories
• 1. Non-porous softwood: Vessels are absent in such type of wood e.g.
Gymnosperms
• 2. Porous wood: Vessels are present in such types of wood.
Types of porous wood
. On the basis of the arrangement of vessels porous wood is divided into
two groups.
• (a) Ring porous wood: Vessels are arranged in the form of a ring in
this type of wood. Such wood conducts water more efficiently e.g. in
the temperate region as in Dalbergia

(b) Diffused porous wood: A systematical distribution of vessels is

found in this type of wood in the tropical region as in Azadirachta.
 Tyloses and their effect
In many dicot plants, the lumen of the xylem vessels is blocked by
many balloon-like ingrowths from the neighboring parenchymatous
cells. These balloon-like structures are called tyloses.
In gymnosperms, the resin ducts are blocked by tylose-like ingrowths
from the neighboring resin-producing parenchyamatous cells. Example:
Pinus.
In angiosperms, the sieve tubes are blocked by tylose-like ingrowths
from the neighboring parenchyamatous cells. Example: Bombox.

• These are called tylosoids

Extra stellar secondary growth

• Due to the increase in girth of the plant due to secondary growth the

outer epidermis and cortex get ruptured now to protect the plant a

new meristem develops which is cork cambium.

• And this cork cambium shows extra stellar secondary growth.

Periderm
Lenticels and its functions
Lenticel is raised opening or pore on the epidermis or bark of stems
and roots.
It is formed during secondary growth in stems. When phellogen is more
active in the region of lenticels, a mass of loosely arranged thin-walled
parenchyma cells is formed. It is called complementary tissue or filling
tissue. Lenticel is helpful in the exchange of gases and transpiration
called lenticular transpiration.
Bark and its function
• The term ‘bark’ is commonly applied to all the tissues outside the
vascular cambium of the stem (i.e., periderm, cortex, primary
phloem, and secondary phloem). Bark protects the plant from
parasitic fungi and insects, prevents water loss by evaporation, and
guards against variations in external temperature. It is an insect
repellent, decay-proof, fireproof, and is used in obtaining drugs or
spices.