Question

What is meant by Pericycle?

Answer 1

Hint: Vascular plants are a large division of plants that have vascular tissues that allow the transport of water and minerals throughout the plants. A bundle of vascular cells forms a vascular cylinder that can be found in the main structure of the plants and in the stems and roots as well. The vascular cylinder consists of xylem, phloem, and pericycle cells.

Complete answer:
Pericycle cells are a part of the tissues inside plants that offer support and nutrients and consist of two types of cells: parenchyma, or sclerenchyma cells. Pericycle cells may be a complete sclerenchymatous zone in many cucurbits. It may consist of both sclerenchyma and parenchyma cells as in sunflower and in many members of composite.
Parenchyma cells are actually vascular, but those that form pericycle cells are referred to as non-vascular parenchyma cells. Their function is to store nutrients and transport nutrients to short distances. Sclerenchyma cells being non-vascular cannot transport water and nutrients, but are responsible for providing support and protection.
Pericycle cells, that are present in the stem of a dicotyledonous plant in a multilayered zone between the endodermis and the vascular bundles, especially work to protect and maintain the structure of the plant. The pericyclic zone is limited by the primary phloem towards the inner side, whereas it is limited by the endodermis towards the outer side. They are considered part of the vascular system because they surround the pith and vascular tissues of the xylem and the phloem. The role of the xylem is to transport water throughout the plant and the phloem carries the nutrients throughout the plants.
Pericycle cells of the roots are similar to that of the stem, but they also help in forming new roots along with providing protection and structure. Pericycle cells of the roots consist of thin-walled parenchyma. The development of new roots is regulated by the pericycle cells. Lateral roots that are similar in the structure to the pericycle cells of the stem, can also be formed and branched off allowing the plant more space to grow and thrive.

Note:
In the roots, the pericycle is generally uniseriate but the pericycle in the smilax root is multilayered and sclerenchymatous. Distinct pericycle occurs in most of the roots. However, certain angiosperm parasites and aquatic plants lack a pericycle in their roots.
Functions: The cells of the pericycle become meristematic and form vascular cambium and phellogen in the dicotyledonous roots. Pericycle gives rise to lateral roots and also adventitious roots in the stem. Some pericycles have their roles in storage.