pericycle
Definition
- Noun (Botany):
- A plant tissue layer: The "pericycle" is a cylinder or layer of cells, typically one to several cells thick, located just inside the endodermis and surrounding the vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) in the roots and stems of plants. It is part of the stele (central cylinder) and plays a key role in lateral root formation and secondary growth.
Usage Examples
- (The pericycle cells divide to form new roots branching off the main root.)
- (The pericycle cells become actively dividing, helping to form new vascular tissue.)
- (Injury to this tissue layer may impair root function.)
Advanced Usage
- "Pericycle activity": Refers to the cell division and differentiation processes within the pericycle.
- Pericycle activity is regulated by auxin, a plant hormone. (Auxin controls how the pericycle cells divide and develop.)
- "Multiseriate pericycle": A pericycle composed of multiple layers of cells, as seen in some gymnosperms.
- The multiseriate pericycle in pine roots provides structural support. (Multiple cell layers in the pericycle strengthen the root.)
Variants and Related Words
- Pericyclic (adj): Relating to or occurring in the pericycle.
- Pericyclic cells are often thin-walled and parenchymatous. (Cells of the pericycle typically have thin walls and are living tissue.)
- Pericycle-derived (adj): Originating from the pericycle.
- Pericycle-derived lateral roots emerge through the cortex. (Roots that come from the pericycle grow outward through the outer plant layers.)
Synonyms
- Root pericycle: The specific pericycle tissue in roots (though no exact synonym exists; it is a distinct anatomical term).
Related Idioms
- None — "pericycle" is a technical scientific term with no idiomatic usage in English.
Phrasal Verbs
- None — "pericycle" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.