Journal of Experimental Botany Effect of environmental factors on whole plant assimilate partitioning and associated gene expression

Partitioning of assimilated carbon among sink organs is a critical factor that controls the rate and pattern of plant growth. Time-course measurements of plant and organ growth rates are useful for determining how regulation of carbon partitioning controls plant growth. Measuring growth rates over a 24 h period reveals the current pattern of carbon partitioning that can be used to predict growth rates of specific sinks. Comparison of growth rates among sinks under defined conditions can point out key factors that regulate partitioning of recently assimilated carbon among sinks. Internal con-trol of carbon partitioning by developmental pro-grammes regulates the timing and site of carbon distribution among developing parts, thereby estab