Lenticel

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The dark horizontal lines on Silver birch bark are the lenticels.
The dark horizontal lines on Silver birch bark are the lenticels.[1]
Lenticels on Wild Cherry or Gean.
Lenticels on Wild Cherry or Gean.

A lenticel is a spongy area present in the cork surfaces of the stems, roots, and other parts of vascular plants. It appears on the surface as a lenticular (lens-shaped) spot, which acts as a pore. These structures allow for the exchange of gases between the internal tissues and atmosphere to occur across the periderm, which would otherwise prevent this exchange of gases. The name lenticel, pronounced with a soft c, derives from its lenticular shape. The shape of lenticels is one of the characteristics used for tree identification.

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[edit] Formation

Lenticels on apples.
Lenticels on apples.
Alder bark (Alnus glutinosa) with characteristic lenticels and abnormal lenticels on callused areas.
Alder bark (Alnus glutinosa) with characteristic lenticels and abnormal lenticels on callused areas.

Lenticel formation begins during the development of the first periderm. In the stem, they usually appear below a stoma or group of stomata. Lenticels are found as raised circular, oval, or elongated areas on stems and roots. As stems and roots mature lenticel development continues in the newly forming periderm found at the bottom of cracks in the bark.

[edit] Fruits

Lenticels are also present on many fruits, quite noticeably on many apples and pears. On European pears, they can serve as an indicator of when to pick the fruit, as light lenticels on immature fruit darken and become brown.[2] Certain bacterial and fungal infections can penetrate fruits through their lenticels, with susceptibility sometimes increasing with its age.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Lenticel". The American Heritage Science Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company, via dictionary.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-11
  2. ^ Pyzner, John. (2005-04-19.) "Pick pears before completely ripe, advises LSU AgCenter horticulturist". Louisiana State University AgCenter website. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
  3. ^ Irtwange, S. V. (February, 2006.) "Application of modified atmosphere packaging and related technology in postharvest handling of fresh fruits and vegetables". Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGR Ejournal. Invited Overview No. 4. Vol. VIII, page 8. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.

[edit] References

  • Raven, Peter H.; Ray F. Evert, Susan E. Eichorn (2005). Biology of Plants 7th Ed.. W.H. Freeman and Company Publishers, 586-587. ISBN 0-7167-1007-2. 
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