References

46 P.W. Barlow
analysis. In particular, it was difficult to discover correspondences between
the subsystems which the theory suggested were involved in information
processing and any known processes, or plant structures. The question
is whether, in the light of new knowledge and the possible existence of
Table 3.2. Subsystems which process information at four levels of organisation that involve
plant organisms
Subsystem Level
Cell Organ Organism Group
s11. Input Plasma Statoliths Root cap, Sensitive plants
transducer membrane sites sensory hairs at the boundary
bearing AUX1
receptor
protein
of the group
s12. Internal Endocytotic Statenchyme ← –
transducer vesicles
s13. Channel Actin Plant synapses, Supersymplasm Vegetation
and net cytoskeleton,
plasmodesmata
pit fields patchwork
s14. Timer Biochemical Cells perceptive Canopy and Autumn colours
oscillators,
mitotic clock
of external timers its properties
s15. Decoder Release of auxin ← – –
s16. Associater Crosstalk Cells with Organs that –
molecules inductive respond to
properties acclimation
and aptation
s17. Memory Short-lived Hysteresis loops, ← –
gene regulators transcellular
electrical
impulses
s18. Decider Regulator genes, Transition Collective –
osmoregulators zone cells plant brain,
target cells
s19. Encoder Genes and Auxin response Organ Plants with
proteins involved processes aposematic open flowers
in hormone
response
marking
S20. Output Plasma Cells which Attractor organs, Reproductive
transducer membrane export scent glands individual
and PIN information
proteins to motor cells
An arrow indicates that the subsystem is devolved to the next-lower organisational level