Year: 2004
Type: preprint
Abstract: Plant shoots are characterized by indeterminate growthresulting from the action of a population of stem cells inthe central zone of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) (Fig.1). These stem cells give rise to peripheral derivativesfrom which lateral organs, such as leaves and flowers,arise. Leaves of higher plants exhibit a varying degree ofasymmetry along their adaxial/abaxial (upper/lower)axis. This asymmetry is thought to reflect inherent positional differences in the developing organ relative to theSAM (Wardlaw 1949). The adaxial/dorsal side of the leafdevelops in close proximity to the stem cells in the SAM,whereas the abaxial/ventral side develops at a greater distance from the apex. Evidence that the meristem is required for pattern formation within lateral organs camefrom early surgical experiments in potato (Sussex 1951,1955). Incisions that separate the incipient primordiumfrom the central zone of the SAM resulted in formation ofa radially symmetric abaxialized leaf, suggesting that asignal from the SAM is required to specify adaxial cellfate. The exact nature of this adaxializing signal remainselusive despite the recent identification of several genefamilies required for the determination of adaxial orabaxial identity.
Institutions: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Stony Brook University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: National Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W2147753528