XVI International Botanical Congess
The development of new organs depends on the availability of limited resources and the probability that these organs will successfully complete their life cycle. A central question is what are the environmental factors and the internal controls that govern the hierarchy and size of new organs. Most plant organs are comprises of smaller functional units. While allocation to small organs allows low risk, the development of large organs allows greater efficiency. It is expected that the determination of organ hierarchy and size would not only depend on the resource availability and the vigor of the plant but also on its evolutionary background, and information concerning its future environment. It is suggested that plasticity of developmental hierarchies allow plants better control over the efficiency and the risk of their developmental moves.