Abstract
Early plants are thought to have grown by equal dichotomous branching of the stem, forming iterative self-similar structures that filled the three-dimensional space. Lack of equality between the two branches resulted in one dominating main growth axis with indeterminate growth and another subsidiary axillary growth axis that displayed limited branching potential. Recruitment of differentiation factors to the axillary branch system may have eventually converted the axillary branch to a determinate organ such as leaves with specific function. Recent molecular genetic analysis has identified some of these differentiation molecules, inactivation of which converts the simple leaves to the indeterminate branching system displayed by stems.
Published Version
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