Review: Fifteen compelling open questions in plant cell biology (Plant Cell)

As part of The Plant Cell’s upcoming celebration of plant cell biology, Roeder et al. write about fifteen of the “open questions” in the field. This, and the other reviews that make up the focus issue, provide valuable insights into the leading edge of the discipline. Among the questions posed: How are the connections between cells (plasmodesmata) controlled and thus control the movements of molecules and signals between cells? How is polarity established within a single cell? (This question is addressed through looking at a classic model, the spores of horsetails, Equisetum). How do mechanical forces shape differentiation? How are the cellular pathways of cell wall synthesis, assembly, modification, and integrity sensing linked? And more. Share this with your students; any one of these open questions could provide an excellent starting point for a class discussion. (Summary by Mary Williams @PlantTeaching) Plant Cell 10.1093/plcell/koab225