Shoot development in plants: time for a change

Abstract

The shoot system in plants progresses through several discrete phases during its development. Changes in the timing of these phases have important consequences for the morphogenesis of the shoot and are likely to be important in plant evolution. Genetic analysis of phase change in herbaceous plants, such as maize and Arabidopsis, has defined some of the genes involved in this phenomenon and has suggested a model for the regulation of this key feature of plant development.