Abstract
Shoot apical meristem (SAM) of plants produces aerial parts of organs such as stems, leaves and flowers, and accordingly has essential effects on morphological architecture, for example, lateral and dichotomous branching patterns of shoots. It is thought that SAM-specific factors interact each other and diffuse spatially, and then SAM is generated and maintained by self-organization.
In order to understand SAM dynamics, we constructed and analyzed a mathematical model that is based on reaction-diffusion system under growth condition by cell division.
By changing parameter values, the model can show lateral branching pattern of SAM in Arabidopsis and Lotus japonicus, dichotomous branching observed in klavier mutant of L. japonicus, and fasciated SAM structure such as fas mutants of Arabidopsis. The model can explain basic behavior of SAM dynamics.
