accrescimento

Accrescimento is a term of Italian origin that translates roughly as growth, increase in size, or enlargement. In scientific and common usage, it describes the process by which an organism, organ, or structure becomes larger over time. The concept encompasses both the amount of growth and the factors that influence it, including genetics, nutrition, environment, and hormonal signals.

In biology, accrescimento refers to the overall growth of an organism from development to maturity. Growth involves two main processes: an increase in cell number (cell proliferation) and an increase in cell size (cell expansion). Hormones, nutrients, and external conditions regulate these processes, leading to different growth trajectories across species and life stages. Growth patterns can be determinate, ending after a defined period, or indeterminate, continuing throughout life in some organisms.

In botany, accrescimento often focuses on the enlargement of plant organs such as stems, leaves, roots, and fruits. This organ growth results from both cell division in meristems and subsequent cell expansion, and it is influenced by water availability, light, temperature, and nutrient supply. Distinguishing accrescimento from morphogenesis helps clarify the difference between increasing size and the formation or arrangement of tissues and organs during development. In woody plants, secondary accrescimento also involves tissues like the vascular cambium and cork cambium, contributing to radial growth and thickening.

Beyond biology, accrescimento can describe increases in other domains, such as economic output or population size, reflecting its general sense of enlargement or intensification. The term derives from Latin accrescere, meaning “to increase.” In Italian-language scientific writing, it is commonly used to discuss growth phenomena across disciplines.