Response of Potato Tuber Cell Division and Growth to Shade and Elevated CO₂

Rate of cell division determines sink strength

Plants adjust their development of sink organs in response to the availability of photosynthate over a range of CO₂ and light conditions. Chen and Setter (pp. 373-381) conclude that potato tuber growth is modulated largely by altering the rate of cell division. This in turn is related to cambial-zone glucose and soluble-invertase in a pattern suggesting the involvement of a glucose-signalling pathway.