Pericycle

The pericycle is a cylinder of parenchyma cells that lies just inside the endodermis within the stele (biology) of plants. These parenchyma cells are suberised in the pattern so-called Casparian Band. This is impermeable and does not allow water and nutrients coming from the soil to enter the vascular bundles apoplastically. The nutrients have to enter the symplast, during which the endodermal membranes exert their selective permeability, controlling what goes in the vascular tissue.

In dicots, it also has the capacity to produce lateral roots. Branch roots arise from this primary meristem tissue. In plants undergoing secondary growth, the pericycle contributes to the vascular cambium often diverging into a cork cambium.

A plant tissue characteristic of the roots, located between the endodermis and phloem.

It may be of single layer or it may be multilayered.

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