In cherry wood, cambium-mining insects create galleries primarily in which tissue?

In cherry wood, cambium-mining insects create galleries primarily in which tissue?

• A. Xylem vessels.
• B. Parenchyma cells.
• C. Phloem fibers.
• D. Bark periderm.

Answer: (B)

The tissue being exploited is the living parenchyma cells in the cambial region and its associated rays. Parenchyma cells are thin-walled, metabolically active, and plentiful in the cambium, making them easy for insects to chew and feed on while they undermine the growing tissue. Xylem vessels are matured and typically dead, phloem fibers are thick-walled sclerenchyma and tougher to penetrate, and the bark periderm lies outside the cambial zone. Because cambium-mining insects rely on accessible, living tissue in the growth region, galleries form primarily in parenchyma cells.

The tissue being exploited is the living parenchyma cells in the cambial region and its associated rays. Parenchyma cells are thin-walled, metabolically active, and plentiful in the cambium, making them easy for insects to chew and feed on while they undermine the growing tissue. Xylem vessels are matured and typically dead, phloem fibers are thick-walled sclerenchyma and tougher to penetrate, and the bark periderm lies outside the cambial zone. Because cambium-mining insects rely on accessible, living tissue in the growth region, galleries form primarily in parenchyma cells.