Cell-by-cell dissection of phloem development links a maturation gradient to cell specialization (Science)
Plant Science Research WeeklyIn this seminal paper, Roszak et al. present a deeper understanding of the development of the protophloem cell lineage. The differentiation process from the phloem stem cell to the enucleated cell state spans approximately 19 cells. Using live imaging, FACS sorting and single-cell RNA sequencing, the…
CLAVATA modulates auxin homeostasis to regulate stem cell identity in a moss (New Phytol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe size and shape of aerial organs in angiosperms is determined by the activity of shoot apical meristem cells. The mechanism by which this cell population is maintained has been well described in Arabidopsis, and involves a negative feedback loop of diffusible CLAVATA peptides and the transcription…
Sheathing leaf: The grass leaf conundrum!! (Science)
Plant Science Research WeeklyOne of the peculiar features of monocots is the presence of sheathing leaf base that encircles the stem, which allow grasses to grow in height, while protecting apical meristem from herbivores by keeping it lower to the ground. Despite its significance, the evolutionary origin has been a controversy…
An essential role of MADS-box proteins during wheat spike development (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyWheat yields depend on the morphology of the inflorescence known as the spike, which harbors multiple lateral spikelets. To control and manipulate wheat productivity, it is necessary to understand the molecular and genetic mechanisms behind the development of inflorescence architecture. Wheat spike development…
Expression analyses in Ginkgo biloba provide new insights into the evolution and development of the seed (Sci. Reports)
Plant Science Research WeeklySeed production was a decisive adaptation that appeared during plant evolution. Not in vain! The most diverse plant lineage today is that of the so-called seed plants, a group that includes gymnosperms and angiosperms. Therefore, it is not surprising that understanding seed origin and evolution has been…
Focus Issue on Architecture and Plasticity (Plant Physiol)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe November issue of Plant Physiology is a Focus Issue on Architecture and Plasticity. One of the most intriguing aspects of plant growth and development is the environmental responsiveness (also known as “plasticity”) of plant architecture (growth form). Depending on environmental conditions, roots…
The Importance of the DNA Damage Response during Maize Kernel Development
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellPedroza-Garcia report that the necessity for DNA damage response kinases under non-stress conditions is higher in maize than in Arabidopsis, indicating that the mechanisms maintaining genome integrity may be more important for vegetative and reproductive development than previously thought. Plant Cell…
Special Issue of J. Exp. Bot. The quiescent center and root apical meristem: Organization and function
Plant Science Research WeeklyAs the name suggests, the root quiescent center (QC) is an area at the root tip of low cell-division activity. This special issue of the Journal of Experimental Botany provides a comprehensive overview of what we understand about the QC and its importance in root growth. The issue is dedicated to the…
Review: Cycling in a crowd: coordination of plant cell division, growth and cell fate (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyUnlike animal cells, plant cells cannot migrate due to the presence of interconnected rigid cell walls, thus plant development relies on a continuous supply of new cells, (fueled by the cell cycle) to form new organs throughout their life. This excellent review by Sablowski and Gutierrez focuses on the…