THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF BRANCH AUTONOMY

摘要: The past 15 years have seen a surge of interest in modularity plants; that is, the implications fact plants are composed repetitive modules may some ways behave as independent units (32). Much has been written about importance plant population biology (e.g. 33, 34, 113, 114), and also advantages disadvantages independence or interdependence among separate but connected (7, 31, 69). is mainly at two scales. At smallest scale, focused on "nutritional unit" (1) "physiologically subunit" (111, 112), comprising unit foliage, section stem to which it attached, subtending axillary bud. opposite end spectrum, research clonal herbs (3, 81, 82, 113), each module (ramet) contains all structural parts physiological processes necessary for existence. However, this upsurge led renewed speculation other, intermediately scaled, functional semiautonomously (112). For woody plants, considerable degree autonomy individual branches' tree shrub (107, 112, 117).