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The protoderm is a primary meristem in plants that develops from the apical meristem. It is the outermost of the three primary meristems and differentiates into the epidermis, which serves as the protective outer layer of the plant body. The epidermis covers stems, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, acting as a barrier against injury, water loss, and infection. This layer is typically one cell thick and its cells lack chloroplasts.123

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