Scaling of phloem structure and optimality of photoassimilate transport in conifer needles

@article{Ronellenfitsch2014ScalingOP,
  title={Scaling of phloem structure and optimality of photoassimilate transport in conifer needles},
  author={Henrik Ronellenfitsch and Johannes Liesche and Kaare H. Jensen and N. Michele Holbrook and Alexander Schulz and Eleni Katifori},
  journal={Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences},
  year={2014},
  volume={282}
}
The phloem vascular system facilitates transport of energy-rich sugar and signalling molecules in plants, thus permitting long-range communication within the organism and growth of non-photosynthesizing organs such as roots and fruits. The flow is driven by osmotic pressure, generated by differences in sugar concentration between distal parts of the plant. The phloem is an intricate distribution system, and many questions about its regulation and structural diversity remain unanswered. Here, we… 
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