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An area of the stem where leaves are located is called a node. Nodes are areas of great cellular activity and growth, where auxiliary buds develop into leaves or flowers. The area between nodes is called the internode. The nodes on the runner are the points where roots begin to form Meristematic tissue is partially preserved in some parts of the plant body during plant growth, for example, in the roots (Pericycle—rhizogenic meristem), the nodes of the shoot, and the medullary rays of the stem. Intercalary meristem is temporarily preserved in the buds, the inter-nodes of the shoot (Gramineae), and the bases of the petioles.

Longitudinal section of axillary meristem of coleus (Coleus). At the top of the micrograph is the shoot apical meristem with two leaf primordia that are too young to have axillary meristems. Near the center of the micrograph is a leaf axil with a bulging axillary meristem. Its cells are stained dark red because the cells and vacuoles are so small that red-stained nuclei dominate the region. This axillary meristem is well-formed and will begin producing its own leaf primordia soon. Typically, the leaf primordia of axillary buds like this develop into bud scales that envelop and protect the axillary bud meristem (the meristem is called the "axillary meristem" while small like this, and the "axillary bud apical meristem" once there are some leaves and stem, that is, once it is obviously a bud). The axillary bud is an embryonic shoot which lies at the junction of the stem and petiole of a plant. As the apical meristem grows and forms leaves, a region of meristematic cells are left behind at the node between the stem and the leaf. These axillary buds are usually dormant, inibited by auxin produced by the apical meristem, which is known as apical dominance. If the apical meristem was removed, or has grown a sufficient distance away from an axillary bud, the axillary bud may become activated (or more appropriately freed from [hormone] inhibition). Like the apical meristem, axillary buds can develop into a stem or flower. Certain plant diseases - notably phytoplasmas - can cause the proliferation of axillary buds, and cause plants to become bushy in appearance. Axillary buds can be used to differentiate if the plant is single-leafed or multi-leafed. Simply count the number of leaves after an axillary bud. If there is only one leaf, then the plant is considered singleleafed, vice versa.

A

leaf primordium is differentiated from a little below the SAM. As it

develops, it elongates and forms a cone-shaped structure around the SAM. At the top of this structure, the mid-rib starts to differentiate. Soon after, smaller veins start to form on both sides of its base, and later in between larger veins. These are the early stages of leaf blade formation. Leaves are produced in succession on the shoot apical meristem (SAM) of a plant. Unlike animals, which make organs only during embryogenesis, plants make organs throughout their lifetime through the action of specialized groups of cells called meristems. Meristems function by setting aside groups of cells to become organ

primordia while maintaining a population of undifferentiated cells to further growth. axillary meristems, which give rise to branches and flowers and therefore play a fundamental role in plant architecture and reproduction. The goal of our research is to understand how the hormonal signal for axillary meristem initiation is perceived and transmitted to cause the changes in gene expression, cell division and expansion required for the formation of an axillary meristem. Axillary meristems form in the axils of primary organs, essentially the upper (adaxial) side of the region where the organ s to the stem

they are secondary meristems, whose function is to allow the continued elaboration of plant morphology, the exact nature of which depends on the AM itself. Plants have the capacity to form new AMs throughout their life cycle, and indeed, they are not necessarily produced and/or activated at the same time as the organs with which they are associated. There is also thus plasticity in the production and activation of AMs.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a close relative of tomato, but has developed novel AM functions. Potato produces some axillary meristems at

the base of the stem, which in the dark (e.g., underground) form diagravitropically growing, subterranean stems, called stolons (Fernie and Willmitzer, 2001). Upon perception of suitable conditions (high sucrose levels, and the onset of winter) which favour vegetative propagation, the stolon apical meristem arrests, and cell division behind the tip begins, forming the familiar potato tuber. The axillary meristems of the stolon are incorporated into the body of tuber, and form the ‘eyes’ of potatoes. The tuber can then remain dormant, and when suitable conditions arise, the AMs of the potato can produce new shoots, each capable of producing a new plant (Fernie and Willmitzer, 2001). This alternative use of AMs allows potato alternative reproductive strategies, which presumably increases the inclusive fitness of any one potato clone Most AMs will go on to form axillary buds, a process which involves the formation of a few leaves by the meristem, followed by a transition to a dormant state. Some axillary buds will appear to grow out without delay, but even these may through a quasi-dormant state (Ward et al., unpublished data). Those which become dormant cease to grow, but remain metabolically active, and express a distinct set of transcripts (Tatematsu et al., in press; Shimizu-Sato and Mori, 2001). Dormant buds retain the potential to grow out indefinitely (at least within the context of the species life-history), and may cycle between dormant and actively growing states several times before finally growing out (Shimuza-Sato and Mori, 2001). The majority of axillary buds will grow out to form lateral branches, which generally repeat the pattern of development seen in the primary shoot, including the production of leaves, flowers, axillary meristems, and eventually, lateral branches. This gives plant development an iterative quality. However, some AMs may form different structures, depending on the species and conditions. Again, some of this variation will be examined in the following section. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is another species in which branching has been studied. In contrast to Arabidopsis, tomato has a sympodial growth habit. At the floral transition, the primary meristem becomes converted into an IM, which then produces flowers. However, this shoot becomes determinate, and ceases to be the dominant shoot. The growth of the plant is continued instead by a ‘sympodial’ branch, formed by the AM of the youngest leaf. However, after the production of three nodes, the primary meristem of this shoot again converts to an IM, and the process is repeated (Schmitz and Theres, 1999) (Figure 2). Another difference to Arabidopsis in

tomato is that AMs initiate very early in the development of tomato leaves, and during vegetative development generally grow out immediately, resulting in a bushy growth habit

Axillary meristems, which subsequently function as shoot apical meristems (SAMs), provide plants with unlimited growth potential. As long as the plant maintains a group of these meristematic cells in the vegetative state, shoot growth and development is indeterminate and the plant has the potential for an open-ended perennial lifespan. According to the university, nodes provide the plant with cellular activity and new growth, producing small buds that develop into new stems, leaves or flowers. They are crucial spots on the plant where important healing, structural , and biological processes take place.