Conclusion

Abstract

Abstract A standpoint can be defined and used to develop a theory for the growth of a particular species, or possibly some variant of a species. The standpoint maintains that four characteristics of plants, as dynamic systems, must be considered to define how growth is controlled in a particular instance. These characteristics may have different relative effects between species: (i) growth is the result of a sequence of processes that starts with developmental processes involved in meristem activity and continues with structural development, autotrophic processes, and then synthesis of material for the plant body; (ii) the environment, whether internal to the plant or external, may affect each of these processes; (iii) it is necessary to understand interactions between processes in order to explain how growth is controlled; and (iv) primary control of development of the plant body is dispersed—it occurs within each apical module of the plant where genetic programmes interact with availability of resources and environmental conditions and that may result in expression of plasticity. The way that modules are integrated to form what appears as the complete plant is the result of this dispersed system of control.