MP Board · Class 9 · Science · TissuesHow does cork act as a protective tissue in mature plant stems?

As woody plants grow older, outer epidermal tissue is replaced by a secondary meristem forming a thick cork layer. Cork cells are dead, compactly arranged without intercellular spaces, and contain a chemical called suberin in their cell walls. Suberin renders cork impervious to gases and water, thereby protecting inner tissues from desiccation, mechanical injury, temperature fluctuations, and microbial infection.