Modeling of spatial variations of growth within apical domes by means of the growth tensor. L Growth specified on dome axis

Abstract

By using the growth tensor and a natural curvilinear coordinate system for description of the distribution of growth in plant organs, three geometric types of shoot apical domes (parabolic, elliptical and hyperbolic) were modeled. It was assumed that apical dome geometry remains unchanged during growth and that the natural coordinate systems are paraboloidal and prolate spheroidal. Two variants of the displacement velocity fields V were considered. One variant is specified by a constant relative elemental rate of growth along the axis of the dome. The second is specified by a rate increasing proportionally with distance from the geometric focus of the coordinate systems (and the apical dome). The growth tensor was used to calculate spatial variations of growth rates for each variant of each dome type. There is in both variants a clear tendency toward lower growth rates in the distal region of the dome. A basic condition for the existence of a tunica is met.

Keywords

• apical dome
• growth tensor
• growth variations