Water deficit effects on structure of proleptic and epicormic shoots

Shoot characteristics differ depending on the meristem tissue that they originate from and the environmental conditions during their development. Negrón et al. observe and model the effects of plant water status on axillary meristem fate and flowering patterns along proleptic and epicormic shoots of almond trees, Prunus dulcis. They find that the two shoot types differ in their patterns of axillary meristem fates along the shoot, and in their axillary meristem fate responses to water stress. The structure of proleptic shoots is more sensitive to water stress than epicormic shoots and reflects differences in their ontogenetic status as well as growth rate patterns during the season.