SERRATE coordinates shoot meristem function and leaf axial patterning in Arabidopsis

Leaves of flowering plants are determinate organs produced by pluripotent structures termed shoot apical meristems. Once specified, leaves differentiate an adaxial (upper) side specialized for light capture, and an abaxial (lower) side specialized for gas exchange. A functional relationship between meristem activity and the differentiation of adaxial leaf fate has been recognized for over fifty years, but the molecular basis of this interaction is unclear. In Arabidopsis thaliana, activity of the class I KNOX (KNOTTED1-like homeobox) genes SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (STM) and BREVIPEDICELLUS (BP) is required for meristem function but excluded from leaves, whereas members of the HD-Zip III (class III homeodomain leucine zipper) protein family function to promote both meristem activity and adaxial leaf fate. Here we show that the zinc-finger protein SERRATE acts in a microRNA (miRNA) gene-silencing pathway to regulate expression of the HD-Zip III gene PHABULOSA (PHB) while also limiting the competence of shoot tissue to respond to KNOX expression. Thus, SERRATE acts to coordinately regulate meristem activity and leaf axial patterning.     

Conserved factors regulate signalling in Arabidopsis thaliana shoot and root stem cell organizers

Throughout the lifespan of a plant, which in some cases can last more than one thousand years, the stem cell niches in the root and shoot apical meristems provide cells for the formation of complete root and shoot systems, respectively. Both niches are superficially different and it has remained unclear whether common regulatory mechanisms exist. Here we address whether root and shoot meristems use related factors for stem cell maintenance. In the root niche the quiescent centre cells, surrounded by the stem cells, express the homeobox gene WOX5 (WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 5), a homologue of the WUSCHEL (WUS) gene that non-cell-autonomously maintains stem cells in the shoot meristem. Loss of WOX5 function in the root meristem stem cell niche causes terminal differentiation in distal stem cells and, redundantly with other regulators, also provokes differentiation of the proximal meristem. Conversely, gain of WOX5 function blocks differentiation of distal stem cell descendents that normally differentiate. Importantly, both WOX5 and WUS maintain stem cells in either a root or shoot context. Together, our data indicate that stem cell maintenance signalling in both meristems employs related regulators.     

Control of phyllotaxy by the cytokinin-inducible response regulator homologue ABPHYL1

Phyllotaxy describes the geometric pattern of leaves and flowers, and has intrigued botanists and mathematicians for centuries. How these patterns are initiated is poorly understood, and this is partly due to the paucity of mutants. Signalling by the plant hormone auxin appears to determine the site of leaf initiation; however, this observation does not explain how distinct patterns of phyllotaxy are initiated. abphyl1 (abph1) mutants of maize initiate leaves in a decussate pattern (that is, paired at 180 degrees), in contrast to the alternating or distichous phyllotaxy observed in wild-type maize and other grasses. Here we show that ABPH1 is homologous to two-component response regulators and is induced by the plant hormone cytokinin. ABPH1 is expressed in the embryonic shoot apical meristem, and its spatial expression pattern changes rapidly with cytokinin treatment. We propose that ABPH1 controls phyllotactic patterning by negatively regulating the cytokinin-induced expansion of the shoot meristem, thereby limiting the space available for primordium initiation at the apex.     

Cyclin D control of growth rate in plants

The mechanisms by which plants modulate their growth rate in response to environmental and developmental conditions are unknown, but are presumed to involve specialized regions called meristems where cell division is concentrated. The possible role of cell division in influencing meristem activity and overall plant growth rate is controversial, with a prevailing view that cell division is secondary to higher order meristem controls. Here we show that a reduction in the length of the cell-cycle G1 phase and faster cell cycling occur when the rate of cell division in transgenic tobacco plants is increased by the plant D-type cyclin CycD2 (ref. 8). The plants have normal cell and meristem sizes, but elevated overall growth rates, an increased rate of leaf initiation and accelerated development in all stages from seedling to maturity. We conclude that cell division is a principal determinant of meristem activity and overall growth rate, and propose that modulation of plant growth rate is achieved through regulation of G1.     

The role of barren stalk1 in the architecture of maize

The architecture of higher plants is established through the activity of lateral meristems--small groups of stem cells formed during vegetative and reproductive development. Lateral meristems generate branches and inflorescence structures, which define the overall form of a plant, and are largely responsible for the evolution of different plant architectures. Here, we report the isolation of the barren stalk1 gene, which encodes a non-canonical basic helix-loop-helix protein required for the initiation of all aerial lateral meristems in maize. barren stalk1 represents one of the earliest genes involved in the patterning of maize inflorescences, and, together with the teosinte branched1 gene, it regulates vegetative lateral meristem development. The architecture of maize has been a major target of selection for early agriculturalists and modern farmers, because it influences harvesting, breeding strategies and mechanization. By sampling nucleotide diversity in the barren stalk1 region, we show that two haplotypes entered the maize gene pool from its wild progenitor, teosinte, and that only one was incorporated throughout modern inbreds, suggesting that barren stalk1 was selected for agronomic purposes.     

Identification of CRE1 as a cytokinin receptor from Arabidopsis

Cytokinins are a class of plant hormones that are central to the regulation of cell division and differentiation in plants. It has been proposed that they are detected by a two-component system, because overexpression of the histidine kinase gene CKI1 induces typical cytokinin responses and genes for a set of response regulators of two-component systems can be induced by cytokinins. Two-component systems use a histidine kinase as an environmental sensor and rely on a phosphorelay for signal transduction. They are common in microorganisms, and are also emerging as important signal detection routes in plants. Here we report the identification of a cytokinin receptor. We identified Arabidopsis cre1 (cytokinin response 1) mutants, which exhibited reduced responses to cytokinins. The mutated gene CRE1 encodes a histidine kinase. CRE1 expression conferred a cytokinin-dependent growth phenotype on a yeast mutant that lacked the endogenous histidine kinase SLN1 (ref. 10), providing direct evidence that CRE1 is a cytokinin receptor. We also provide evidence that cytokinins can activate CRE1 to initiate phosphorelay signalling.     

厚壁毛竹与毛竹地下茎发育规律的比较

【目的】进一步解析厚壁毛竹茎秆节间壁厚腔小的细胞学机制。【方法】通过石蜡切片观察细胞学结构差异,采用超椭圆方程精确描述顶端分生组织外轮廓。【结果】厚壁毛竹竹鞭实心、无髓腔、横切面布满维管束组织,而毛竹竹鞭横切面中心为髓腔。连续纵切及横切切片显示,厚壁毛竹鞭笋顶端分生组织在发育过程中未分化出髓组织; 且厚壁毛竹顶端分生组织相比于毛竹,形态细长、细胞数目多、面积大,但细胞层数相似。数学建模分析显示,毛竹与厚壁毛竹顶端分生组织外轮廓均可以被超椭圆方程精确描述,但是毛竹长轴与水平轴的夹角约呈45°,而厚壁毛竹的夹角近乎90°,显著不同于毛竹。在光学显微镜下与毛竹比较,厚壁毛竹顶端分生组织细胞的细胞质浓、形态更规整。【结论】厚壁毛竹顶端分生组织形态及结构异常是导致其竹鞭实心的细胞学原因。     

匙唇兰次生培养研究

研究了匙唇兰的类原生质体次生培养.建立了其原球茎次生培养的可行性方法,选择营养液中细胞分裂素与生长素的种类与含量.匙唇兰幼苗的侧芽与顶芽在改良MS(1949)培养基中离体培养6到10周即可形成类原生质体.检测不同的细胞分裂素与生长素配比对匙唇兰原球茎次生培养的效果.用Minitab14.12统计分析软件做方差分析.其结果表明,细胞分裂素6-BA与生长素NAA双因素的效应以及交互效应都显著.细胞分裂素6-BA有利于原球茎的次生扩繁与增殖,生长素NAA刺激生根,有利于幼苗的形成.新鲜椰乳对原球茎的增殖以及幼苗生根都有特殊的良好效果,其对照试验结果明显优于其它没有添加新鲜椰乳的配方.最佳增殖配方是细胞分裂素6-BA 2.0 mg.L-1和生长素NAA0.5 mg.L-1.诱导幼苗形成的最佳配方是细胞分裂素6-BA 2.0 mg.L-1和NAA1.0 mg.L-1.     

高斯-拉普拉斯边缘检测算子的扩展研究

针对经典的高斯-拉普拉斯（LOG）边缘检测算子是各向同性的,对各个角度方向的图像边缘检测的力度是相同的特性,对经典LOG边缘检测算子引入了角度信息参量进行推导,使以圆为对称的经典的LOG边缘检测算子变成为以椭圆对称,并且可以在坐标轴旋转任意角度的边缘检测算子,增强了其边缘检测的功能,使之能对不同角度方向的边缘更加有效地进行检测．经过在Matlab里对同一幅图像进行比较实验,对于图像中不同角度的边缘均能相应地进行提取．扩展后的LOG算子,不仅增强了边缘检测算法功能,而且完全保留了经典LOG算子原有的优点．     

Inhibition of shoot branching by new terpenoid plant hormones

Shoot branching is a major determinant of plant architecture and is highly regulated by endogenous and environmental cues. Two classes of hormones, auxin and cytokinin, have long been known to have an important involvement in controlling shoot branching. Previous studies using a series of mutants with enhanced shoot branching suggested the existence of a third class of hormone(s) that is derived from carotenoids, but its chemical identity has been unknown. Here we show that levels of strigolactones, a group of terpenoid lactones, are significantly reduced in some of the branching mutants. Furthermore, application of strigolactones inhibits shoot branching in these mutants. Strigolactones were previously found in root exudates acting as communication chemicals with parasitic weeds and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Thus, we propose that strigolactones act as a new hormone class-or their biosynthetic precursors-in regulating above-ground plant architecture, and also have a function in underground communication with other neighbouring organisms.     

结球白菜在个体发育中苗端淀粉粒积累的变化

本文描述了结球白菜苗瑞细胞中淀粉粒的含量在个体发育过程中的变化规律,结果是: 结球白菜苗端在分化和形成叶原基的过程中,淀粉粒主要积累于肋状分生组织细胞中,且随苗端产生叶原基活动的加强而增多;随营养苗端向生殖苗端的转化,其淀粉粒的含量明显减少,转化完成后的生殖苗端细胞中,极少见到淀粉粒。由此可见,淀粉物质的积累和变化与叶原基的分化形成及白菜包心结球有着密切的关系。     

裸燕麦不同发育时期的茎尖外植体中内源激素与体细胞胚胎发生的关系

裸燕麦的茎尖开始拉长,小穗原基开始分化和小穗形成三个不同的分化阶段的外植体在诱导体细胞胚胎发生时,随小穗原基的分化和形成过程,要求外源2.4-D浓度越来越高内源生长素(1AA)和细胞分裂素(CTK)分析结果表明三个不同分化阶段的1AA/CTK比值分别为1.36:1,l:1.02和1:2.08,而脱分化的愈伤组织和胚性愈伤组织中二者比值分别为1.81:1和5.10:1。我们推测,体细胞胚胎发生过程中内源生长素的高比值是要求大量提高外源2.4-D浓度的原因。     

Regulation of phyllotaxis by polar auxin transport

The regular arrangement of leaves around a plant's stem, called phyllotaxis, has for centuries attracted the attention of philosophers, mathematicians and natural scientists; however, to date, studies of phyllotaxis have been largely theoretical. Leaves and flowers are formed from the shoot apical meristem, triggered by the plant hormone auxin. Auxin is transported through plant tissues by specific cellular influx and efflux carrier proteins. Here we show that proteins involved in auxin transport regulate phyllotaxis. Our data indicate that auxin is transported upwards into the meristem through the epidermis and the outermost meristem cell layer. Existing leaf primordia act as sinks, redistributing auxin and creating its heterogeneous distribution in the meristem. Auxin accumulation occurs only at certain minimal distances from existing primordia, defining the position of future primordia. This model for phyllotaxis accounts for its reiterative nature, as well as its regularity and stability.     

植物根尖分生组织干细胞调控模式

静止中心(QC)形成和干细胞区特化是植物根尖分生组织确立的标志。静止中心位于根尖分生组织中心,干细胞围绕在静止中心细胞周围。依赖于生长素的PLT途径和不依赖于生长素的SCR/SHR途径共同发挥维持静止中心细胞稳定的作用。静止中心和干细胞区的柱干细胞之间存在类似于WUS/CLV3的WOX5/ACR4/CLE40的反馈抑制调节途径,该调节途径维持着静止中心细胞和柱干细胞之间的平衡。静止中心和其他类型干细胞之间也可能存在类似的反馈抑制调节途径。生长素、细胞分裂素、赤霉素等植物激素信号在根干细胞功能发挥方面也起到重要作用,与各种基因一起组成根分生组织干细胞调控网络。