Mathematical modeling of changes in auxin concentration at early stages ofplant embryogenesis

Mathematical models that describe processes occuring in the growth zone of plants have been developed. Based on the fact that auxin plays a key role i n the division and differentiation of cells belonging to the growth zone, c hanges in its concentration were modelled using the following assumptions: (1) auxin transport is a vectorial process; (2) increasing auxin concentrat ion induces the synthesis of its inhibitor; (3) the mechanism of auxin synt hesis is autocatalytic. The mathematical models based on these assumptions give an insight into the mechanisms that limit the growth zone and enable o n to estimate its length.