Apical Growth

• The apical meristems give rise to primary growth (lengthening) and occurs at the tips of the roots and shoots
• Meristems


  Undifferentiated cells in plants that allow indeterminate growth
• Growth in plants

  1. Mitosis and cell division in the shoot apex

  2. Provide cells needed for extension of the stem and development of leaves
• Plant hormones


  Control growth in the shoot apex
• Plant shoots

  • Respond to the environment by tropisms
• Auxin efflux pumps

  Can set up concentration gradients of auxin in plant tissue
• Auxin


  Influences cell growth rates by changing the pattern of gene expression