Publication . Lopes, Susana T.; Miguel, Célia; Campilho, Ana
"The cork cambium, also known as phellogen, is a secondary meristem that, together with the vascular cambium, promotes the secondary growth of stems and roots. The division of phellogen cells gives rise to phellem (or cork) outwards and phelloderm inwards, forming the periderm, a protective layer that replaces the epidermis as the plant grows radially, protecting the internal tissues from pathogens and abiotic stresses. In cork oak (Quercus suber), the phellogen remains active for most of the tree’s life, producing a continuous and renewable layer of cork, with high commercial value due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Despite the high ecological and socioeconomic value of cork, most studies on Q. suber periderm focus on the cellular structure and chemical composition of the cork, while studies on phellogen activity and cork differentiation remain scarce.(...)"
