General discussion 6 213 Figure 6.1. Vicia faba stem morphology shows a developmental trajectory of pith cells across internodes. The older internodes (first and second) are filled with live pith, while the third internode onwards we observed a pith cavity forming through middle pith programmed cell death. 6.1.3 The relationship between SAS and secondary growth is not resolved yet In chapter 2, we observed a consistent promotion of cambium thickness in tomato during far-red (FR) analysis. The vascular cambium serves various functions, with a possible role in facilitating secondary growth. Secondary growth is a vital process in the growth and development of many plants, especially woody species. It involves the production of secondary tissues, such as wood and bark, in plant stems and roots. These secondary thickened tissues provide structural support, increase the girth of the plant, and allow it to grow taller and more robust over time. The two key meristematic tissues responsible for secondary growth are the vascular cambium and cork cambium. The vascular cambium generates a secondary xylem (wood) towards the inside of the stem and secondary phloem towards the outside, contributing to the plant’s water transport and nutrient distribution. The cork cambium produces cork cells that form the protective outer bark layer. Secondary growth is critical for plants to attain sufficient height, access resources, and adapt to changing environmental conditions.
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