Diversity of phyllotaxis in land plants in reference to the shoot apical meristem structure

Abstract

Regularity and periodicity in the arrangements of organs in all groups of land plants raise questions about the mechanisms underlying phyllotactic pattern formation. The initiation of the lateral organs (leaves, flowers, etc.), and thus, their spatio-temporal positioning, occurs in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and is related to the structure and organogenic activity of the meristem. In this review, we present some aspects of the diversity and stability of phyllotactic patterns in the major lineages of land plants, from bryophytes to angiosperms, in which SAM structures differ significantly. In addition, we discuss some of the possible mechanisms involved in the formation of the recurring arrangement of the lateral organs.