Abstract
S umnlary: Shoot development of higher plants is largely dependent on the shoot apical meristem, a small group of undifferentiated cells at the tip. Establishment of the meristem during embryogenesis is animportant step for postembryonic shoot organ formation. Recent molecular genetic studies have led to the identification of numerous genes which are important for this step. These analyses have demonstrated that the molecular program responsible for shoot meristem formation starts long before morphological fbatures of the meristem become evident, and progresses through several steps.
