The Flowering Process at the Meristem: Anatomicaland Histocytological Events

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Abstract
This chapter aims to summarize the tissular and ultrastructural changes that occur during the transition of meristems from vegetative growth to flower formation. Changes specific to some plants are known, and it must be kept in mind that restricting the discussion to basic similarities gives only a little idea of the real complexity of the flowering process in angiosperms. A proper understanding of the floral transformation cannot be obtained without reference to the base structure that is the vegetative meristem. The most significant finding of the histological and histochemical study of meristems is that during floral transformation a "prefloral" stage is identifiable in almost all species regardless of photoperiodic or vernalization requirements or of the kind of reproductive structures produced. At the ultrastructural level, dramatic changes occur in all cell components during the floral transition. The earliest events are extranuclear: to increase mitochondrial and plastid number, and vacuolar reduction.

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