A new study of cambium of Pinus sylvestris L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Wisteria floribunda (Willd.) DC provides fresh clues on the cambial dynamics, rejecting the hitherto held concept that intrusive growth of the fusiform initial occurs between the radial walls of adjacent initials. It demonstrates that intrusion of the elongating initial in fact takes place along tangential walls of adjacent fusiform initials and their immediate derivatives. It also suggests a new mechanism for ‘elimination of initials’. Intrusive growth of the fusiform initial was found to begin with development of characteristic slants, representing a transitional stage of the process of transformation of periclinal walls of fusiform initial cells into radial walls, as observed in transverse sections of active cambium. The gradually progressing event comprised (a) appearance of either a triangular microspace limited by two periclinal walls of a fusiform initial and its derivative and one radial wall of another fusiform initial in the adjacent radial file, or a rhomboidal microspace enclosed by four periclinal walls of two laterally adjacent fusiform initials and their immediate derivatives, (b) intrusion of elongating tip of fusiform initial from neighbouring file into the microspace thus formed, (c) symplastic growth of the cambial cell walls in radial direction, (d) unequal periclinal divisions of fusiform initial cells while growing intrusively, and (e) unequal periclinal divisions of derivative cells not growing intrusively. Intrusive growth between periclinal walls affected rearrangement of the fusiform initials but did not add to the cambial circumference. The existing concepts of (a) intrusion of the fusiform initial between radial walls of neighbouring initials and (b) elimination of fusiform initials from cambial surface have been reassessed and redefined.

Several modifications in root morphology are commonly reported: (1) decreased root size, (2) radial swelling accompanied by increased radial dimension of the cortex cell layers and (3) enhanced cap cell sloughing. Nevertheless, because of differences between species and individual plants, a universal scenario for root morphological changes resulting from externally applied pressures is not possible. Thus, knowledge of the root response to mechanical impedance remains incomplete. Studies on the mechanical properties of the root as well as on possible modifications in cell wall structure and composition as the elements responsible for the mechanical properties of the plant tissue are required to understand the response of root tissue as a biomaterial.

The effect of mechanical stress on the root apical meristem (RAM) organization of Zea mays was investigated. In the experiment performed, root apices were grown through a narrowing of either circular (variant I) or elliptical (variant II) shape. This caused a mechanical impedance distributed circumferentially or from the opposite sides in variant I and II, respectively. The maximal force exerted by the growing root in response to the impedance reached the value of 0.15 N for variant I and 0.08 N for variant II. Significant morphological and anatomical changes were observed. The changes in morphology depended on the variant and concerned diminishing and/or deformation of the cross-section of the root apex, and buckling and swelling of the root. Anatomical changes, similar in both variants, concerned transformation of the meristem from closed to open, an increase in the number of the cell layers at the pole of the root proper, and atypical oblique divisions of the root cap cells. After leaving the narrowing, a return to both typical cellular organization and morphology of the apex was observed. The results are discussed in terms of three aspects: the morphological response, the RAM reorganization, and mechanical factors. Assuming that the orientation of division walls is affected by directional cues of a tensor nature, the changes mentioned may indicate that a pattern of such cues is modified when the root apex passes through the narrowing, but its primary mode is finally restored.

In this work, the formation of the virtual lateral root (VLR) is shown. The VLR is formed using the 2D simulation model of growth and cell divisions based on the concept of growth tensor, specified for radish. Growth is generated by the field of growth rates of an unsteady type (GT field). Principal directions of growth (PDGs) are assumed to define the orientation of cell divisions. Temporal sequences of the VLR formation are a result of an application of the GT field to the polygon meshwork representing cell pattern of already initiated primordium. The computer-generated lateral root (LR) develops realistically, and its cell pattern is vivid and similar to that observed in anatomical sections. The real and virtual LRs show similar cellular organization, both originate from a small group of cells situated in two-cell layers of the pericycle and both layers are engaged in the LR development. The LR formation seems to be controlled at the tensor level and individual cells presumably detect PDGs and obey them in the course of the cell divisions. PDGs are postulated to affect the cellular organization of the LR. Using the method of computer simulations, cellular aspects of the LR morphogenesis are discussed.