• Growth rate represents a fundamental axis of life history variation. Faster growth associated with C₄ photosynthesis and annual life history has evolved multiple times, and the resulting diversity in growth is typically explained via resource acquisition and allocation. However, the underlying changes in morphogenesis remain unknown.
• We conducted a phylogenetic comparative experiment with 74 grass species, conceptualising morphogenesis as the branching and growth of repeating modules. We aimed to establish whether faster growth in C₄ and annual grasses, compared with C₃ and perennial grasses, came from the faster growth of individual modules or higher rates of module initiation.
• Morphogenesis produces fast growth in different ways in grasses using C₄ and C₃ photosynthesis, and in annual compared with perennial species. C₄ grasses grow faster than C₃ species through a greater enlargement of shoot modules and quicker secondary branching of roots. However, leaf initiation is slower and there is no change in shoot branching. Conversely, faster growth in annuals than perennials is achieved through greater branching and enlargement of shoots, and possibly faster root branching.
• The morphogenesis of fast growth depends on ecological context, with C₄ grasses tending to promote resource capture under competition, and annuals enhancing branching to increase reproductive potential.

中文翻译：

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植物快速生长的形态发生。

• 增长率代表生活史变化的基本轴。与C ₄光合作用和年度生活史相关的更快的生长已经进化了多次，并且通常通过资源获取和分配来解释所导致的生长多样性。但是，形态发生的潜在变化仍然未知。
• 我们对74种草进行了系统发育比较实验，将形态发生概念化为重复模块的分支和生长。我们的目的是建立在C是否较快增长₄和一年生禾本科植物，用C比₃和多年生草本植物，从单个模块或模块引发的高利率的较快增长来了。
• Morphogenesis produces fast growth in different ways in grasses using C₄ and C₃ photosynthesis, and in annual compared with perennial species. C₄ grasses grow faster than C₃ species through a greater enlargement of shoot modules and quicker secondary branching of roots. However, leaf initiation is slower and there is no change in shoot branching. Conversely, faster growth in annuals than perennials is achieved through greater branching and enlargement of shoots, and possibly faster root branching.
• The morphogenesis of fast growth depends on ecological context, with C₄ grasses tending to promote resource capture under competition, and annuals enhancing branching to increase reproductive potential.