ON THE ALLOMETRIC GROWTH OF TISSUES IN FRUITS

This paper deals with the relative growth of three different fruit tis sues. Their morphogenetic periods and the mathematical constraints inv olved are described, and more precisely, the paper shows an allometric relationship (Y=nX(m)) between the widths (X, Y) of the main tissues in stone fruits such as cherries, peaches and prunes. The mathematical relationships between the growth of the mesocarp and of the endocarp of some Prunus fruits are described, and it is proved that before the formation of the embryo, growth is allometric, in agreement with concl usions drawn from some experimental data. However, according to anothe r study, the growth of the mesocarp and of the endocarp are ruled by a utocatalytic and monomolecular functions, before as well as after the formation of the embryo. In this case, it is proved that if allometry exits in stone fruits, it can only be enantiometry (m = -1). To solve the dilemma, two main alternatives are proposed and discussed. We conc lude that, while allometry is established on reasonable grounds before the formation of the embryo, after the formation of the embryo the me socarp and endocarp evolve independently since a center for the coordi nation of growth no longer exists, and each tissue can grow according to its own independent rules.