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Lateral growth patterns in the Cladoniaceae.
1Division of Science and Mathematics, College of General Studies, Boston University, 871 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 USA.
American Journal of Botany
|May 17, 2001
Summary
Cladoniiform lichens exhibit lateral growth via a meristem shift from isotropous to anisotropous development. This change in growth orientation drives evolutionary diversification in lichen thallus forms.
Area of Science:
- Botany
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Lateral growth is common in cladoniiform lichens.
- This growth occurs through a meristem developmental shift from isotropous to anisotropous orientation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental shift in meristems leading to lateral growth in cladoniiform lichens.
- To understand the evolutionary implications of this developmental plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of meristem development and growth orientation.
- Comparison of morphogenetic activities across related and unrelated species.
Main Results:
- A shift from isotropous to anisotropous development alters growth planes, resulting in lateral elongation.
- This developmental flexibility allows for ontogenetic variation and loss of centralized meristem control.
- Asymmetry in growth leads to a diversity of heritable thallus forms, reflecting evolutionary processes.
Conclusions:
- The shift to anisotropous development is a key innovation in Cladoniaceae evolution, enabling thallus form diversity.
- Conserved morphogenetic activities suggest a deep evolutionary history for this developmental strategy.