Influence of Cambium Mechanism in Plants in Relation to Different Environmental Stresses

Abstract

The cambial response of most plants varies with exposure to different environmental stresses, affecting their morphological and physiological features. The timing of cambial reactivation contributes to the quality of wood produced and the ability of plants to adapt to environmental conditions. Cambial structure and function provide insights into the genetic components or mechanisms underlying the secondary growth of plants. This study aimed to investigate how environmental stresses such as temperature, water, and phosphorus affect cambial activity mechanisms and xylem differentiation in different plant species. Under temperature regulation, cambial reactivation and xylem differentiation occur earlier in young cambium than in mature cambium, even under the same environmental conditions. Studies suggest that the cambial response to temperature regulation is related to the age of the cambium. During high heat waves and extended periods despite the rain, the number of new tracheids on trees seemed to decrease, and their radial diameters diminished. In low phosphorus (P) soils, the increasing timber density was therefore connected with the inhibited stem cambial activity, which resulted in a higher amount of photoassimilates for the secondary wall thickening of fibre cells. Under P deficiency, root anatomy changes with respect to stele diameter, root diameter, and meta-xylem vessels. Ultimately, changes in climatic conditions have a significant impact on the physiological characteristics of particular plant genera.