Constitution of Organs of the Higher Plants: The multiple secondary axis theory

This book written by Professor Chi Yen of Sichuan Agricultural University in Chinese was published by China Agriculture Press (ISBN 978-7-109-22791-0). It describes a new theory on the constitution of organs of the higher plants based on experimental evidence, the multiple secondary axis theory. This theory states that all organs of the higher plants are the constitution of multiple secondary axes. The primary axis extends bipolarly to initiate the above- and the below-ground parts of a plant, from which secondary axes develop. Leaves are split, expanded upper ends of terminal secondary axes. Stems are merged lower ends of the secondary axes, Vascular bundles are secondary structures developed within the axes which interconnect with each other to form the central core of the stem and branches and the veins in the leaves. Roots form through the downward extension of the lower ends of the axes toward or within the underground and branch roots are unsplit secondary axes. All new axes emerge from the inner side of existing, split axes. All floral organs including fruits, seeds and vegetative reproduction organs such as bulbils and plantlets, are deformed axes. This theory is significant in guiding the scientific design of the ideotype of crops to optimize the development of the economically important organ(s) of a crop.