1 - Introduction

Abstract

This chapter presents an introduction to the growth and development of woody plants. The growth and development of woody plants are regulated by interactions of their heredity and environment as they influence the availability of resources at meristematic sites. The hereditary control of plant growth depends on the DNA of cell chromosomes, which through messenger RNA regulates the kinds of proteins and enzymes synthesized, which in turn control the cell structure and plant responses. The causes of genetic variation in plants have been identified, and the ultimate source of variation is mutation, which may involve a change in a single gene by alteration of DNA molecules or a loss or addition of one or more chromosomes or parts of chromosomes. Genetic variations in growth and development of woody plants differ among species, populations within a species, and individual plants. The environmental regulation of the growth of woody plants involves multiple abiotic and biotic stresses. The important abiotic stresses include extremes in light intensity, drought, flooding, temperature extremes, pollution, and wind. The major biotic stresses are plant competition, attacks by insects and pathogens, some activities of humans, and herbivory.