title: Structure and functions of the vascular cambium.
abstract: Following a general outline on the functioning of the cambium, the authors review the data acquired over the last 20 years. The interest is focused on: i) the ultrastructural characteristics of the two kinds of initials; ii) the early structural, metabolic and molecular modifications occurring during the first stages of daughter cell differentiation into either xylem or phloem; iii) the complex rhythmic changes of structure, metabolism and activity undergone by cambial cells during the seasonal cycle; iv) the characteristics and control of the cessation of cambial activity in autumn and of its reactivation in spring; v) the main research approaches in cell and molecular biology presently open to the students of the cambial meristem.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de physiologie et biochimie végétales, ESA 6161 CNSR, Université de Pointers, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lachaud
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Catesson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bonnemain
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D059828:Plant Cells; D063245:Plant Development; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena