p. 44516 Vegetative Growth and Senescence
- Lincoln Taiz, Lincoln TaizUniversity of California, Santa Cruz
- Eduardo Zeiger, Eduardo ZeigerUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- Ian Max MøllerIan Max MøllerAarhus University, Denmark
- , and Angus MurphyAngus MurphyUniversity of Maryland
Abstract
This chapter focuses on vegetative growth and plant senescence. During seedling establishment, the basic polarities of the seedling axes are set up and the major tissue types are differentiated. The next developmental stage produces the mature primary plant body. In the shoot, numerous leaves form and specialized cell types differentiate. Throughout the vegetative life of the plant, the process of leaf senescence recycles organic constituents and mineral nutrients from old to newly formed leaves. Eventually, the whole plant undergoes senescence as a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The chapter then looks at the shoot apical meristem, leaf structure and phyllotaxy, epidermal cell types, venation patterns in leaves, shoot branching and architecture, shade avoidance, root system architecture, and leaf abscission.
