ONTOGENETIC TRENDS IN CONIFER CAMBIUM WITH RESPECT TO FREQUENCY OF ANTICLINAL DIVISION AND CELL LENGTH

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Abstract
Through the growth of the first few years, when the perimeter of the stem is fast expanding, the multiplicative pseudotransverse divisions in fusiform cambial cells occur in relatively rapid sequence, the ratio of survival of newly formed cambial cells is high, and continuous increase in mean cell length ensues. Accommodation of the cambium to circumferential expansion is thus facilitated. With increasing age and diminishing rate of perimeter growth the frequency of pseudotransverse division declines, the survival rate of new-formed cambial initials drops, and increase in cell length slackens. This gradual flattening off may continue through to the final growth, but more often fluctuations in rate of anticlinal division and cell length arise in the middle to late growth, these not always exhibiting close interrelationship. Sometimes high rates of pseudotransverse division occur in the late growth which are accompanied by only moderate reductions in cell length.