Geometry of shoot apical dome and distribution of growth rates

Abstract

The distribution of the relative elementary rate of growth (RERG) in apical domes of various shapes and patterns of displacement lines can be analytically examined. The geometry of these domes may be described by parabolas of n-th order, the variant of the distribution of linear growth rate should be established along any displacement line (e.g. along the axis) and then the RERG can be studied as the function depending on the position coordinates and the parameter n. Such investigations of several aplical domes of various shapes have been performed. The results confirm the occurrence of the minimum of relative, elementary growth rate (in volume) in the subapical region of the dome independently of the type of geometry (n parabola order).