groeipuntt

Groeipuntt is a term used in horticulture and botany to denote the growth point at the tip of a plant shoot or root, where cells are actively dividing and major developmental decisions are made. The word combines growth (groei) and point (punt), and in many languages it is used to refer to the region that governs elongation and the initiation of new organs. In biology, the growth point at the shoot tip is commonly aligned with what is called the shoot apical meristem.

Anatomically, the groeipuntt sits at the apex and consists of a cluster of undifferentiated, rapidly dividing cells. This region gives rise to leaf primordia and initiates the formation of the stem and other tissues. It is organized into layers and maintains the stem cell population while directing organ formation as the plant grows. The root growth point functions similarly at the tip of roots, regulating root elongation and the initiation of lateral roots.

Function and regulation depend on hormonal signals and environmental cues. Auxin gradients produced near the growth point influence organ initiation, while cytokinins affect cell division rates. Light, gravity, water availability, and nutrient status can modulate growth point activity, altering branching patterns and overall plant architecture.

In practice, the growth point is central to pruning, training, and propagation strategies in agriculture and horticulture. Damage or removal of the apex can induce lateral growth, while maintaining a healthy groeipuntt supports steady vertical growth. See also shoot apical meristem, apical dominance, and meristem.