Auxin transport and activity regulate stomatal patterning and development

Methylisothiazolinone pollution inhibited root stem cells and regeneration through auxin transport modification in Arabidopsis thaliana

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a widely used preservative and biocide to prevent product degradation, yet its potential impact on plant growth remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated MIT's toxic effects on Arabidopsis thaliana root growth. Exposure to MIT significantly inhibited Arabidopsis root growth, associated with reduced root meristem size and root meristem cell numbers. We explored the polar auxin transport pathway and stem cell regulation as key factors in root meristem function. Our findings demonstrated that MIT suppressed the expression of the auxin efflux carrier PIN1 and major root stem cell regulators (PLT1, PLT2, SHR, and SCR). Additionally, MIT hindered root regeneration by downregulating the quiescent center (QC) marker WOX5. Transcriptome analysis revealed MIT-induced alterations in gene expression related to oxidative stress, with physiological experiments confirming elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and increased cell death in root tips at concentrations exceeding 50 μM. In summary, this study provides critical insights into MIT's toxicity on plant root development and regeneration, primarily linked to modifications in polar auxin transport and downregulation of genes associated with root stem cell regulation.

An incoherent feed-forward loop involving bHLH transcription factors, Auxin and CYCLIN-Ds regulates style radial symmetry establishment in Arabidopsis

The bilateral-to-radial symmetry transition occurring during the development of the Arabidopsis thaliana female reproductive organ (gynoecium) is a crucial biological process linked to plant fertilization and seed production. Despite its significance, the cellular mechanisms governing the establishment and breaking of radial symmetry at the gynoecium apex (style) remain unknown. To fill this gap, we employed quantitative confocal imaging coupled with MorphoGraphX analysis, in vivo and in vitro transcriptional experiments, and genetic analysis encompassing mutants in two bHLH transcription factors necessary and sufficient to promote transition to radial symmetry, SPATULA (SPT) and INDEHISCENT (IND). Here, we show that defects in style morphogenesis correlate with defects in cell-division orientation and rate. We showed that the SPT-mediated accumulation of auxin in the medial-apical cells undergoing symmetry transition is required to maintain cell-division-oriented perpendicular to the direction of organ growth (anticlinal, transversal cell division). In addition, SPT and IND promote the expression of specific core cell-cycle regulators, CYCLIN-D1;1 (CYC-D1;1) and CYC-D3;3, to support progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This transcriptional regulation is repressed by auxin, thus forming an incoherent feed-forward loop mechanism. We propose that this mechanism fine-tunes cell division rate and orientation with the morphogenic signal provided by auxin, during patterning of radial symmetry at the style.

Regulation of stomatal development by epidermal, subepidermal and long-distance signals

Plant leaves consist of three layers, including epidermis, mesophyll and vascular tissues. Their development is meticulously orchestrated. Stomata are the specified structures on the epidermis for uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) while release of water vapour and oxygen (O2), and thus play essential roles in regulation of plant photosynthesis and water use efficiency. To function efficiently, stomatal formation must coordinate with the development of other epidermal cell types, such as pavement cell and trichome, and tissues of other layers, such as mesophyll and leaf vein. This review summarizes the regulation of stomatal development in three dimensions (3D). In the epidermis, specific stomatal transcription factors determine cell fate transitions and also activate a ligand-receptor- MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK) signaling for ensuring proper stomatal density and patterning. This forms the core regulation network of stomatal development, which integrates various environmental cues and phytohormone signals to modulate stomatal production. Under the epidermis, mesophyll, endodermis of hypocotyl and inflorescence stem, and veins in grasses secrete mobile signals to influence stomatal formation in the epidermis. In addition, long-distance signals which may include phytohormones, RNAs, peptides and proteins originated from other plant organs modulate stomatal development, enabling plants to systematically adapt to the ever changing environment.

The Ins and Outs of Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper/Hormone Networks in the Regulation of Plant Development

The generation of complex plant architectures depends on the interactions among different molecular regulatory networks that control the growth of cells within tissues, ultimately shaping the final morphological features of each structure. The regulatory networks underlying tissue growth and overall plant shapes are composed of intricate webs of transcriptional regulators which synergize or compete to regulate the expression of downstream targets. Transcriptional regulation is intimately linked to phytohormone networks as transcription factors (TFs) might act as effectors or regulators of hormone signaling pathways, further enhancing the capacity and flexibility of molecular networks in shaping plant architectures. Here, we focus on homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) proteins, a class of plant-specific transcriptional regulators, and review their molecular connections with hormonal networks in different developmental contexts. We discuss how HD-ZIP proteins emerge as key regulators of hormone action in plants and further highlight the fundamental role that HD-ZIP/hormone networks play in the control of the body plan and plant growth.

Roles of abscisic acid and auxin in plants during drought: A molecular point of view

Plant responses to drought are mediated by hormones like ABA (abscisic acid) and auxin. These hormones regulate plant drought responses by modulating various physiological and biological processes via cell signaling. ABA accumulation and signaling are central to plant drought responses. Auxin also regulates plant adaptive responses to drought, especially via signal transduction mediated by the interaction between ABA and auxin. In this review, we explored the interactive roles of ABA and auxin in the modulation of stomatal movement, root traits and accumulation of reactive oxygen species associated with drought tolerance.

A cell size threshold triggers commitment to stomatal fate in Arabidopsis

How flexible developmental programs integrate information from internal and external factors to modulate stem cell behavior is a fundamental question in developmental biology. Cells of the Arabidopsis stomatal lineage modify the balance of stem cell proliferation and differentiation to adjust the size and cell type composition of mature leaves. Here, we report that meristemoids, one type of stomatal lineage stem cell, trigger the transition from asymmetric self-renewing divisions to commitment and terminal differentiation by crossing a critical cell size threshold. Through computational simulation, we demonstrate that this cell size-mediated transition allows robust, yet flexible termination of stem cell proliferation, and we observe adjustments in the number of divisions before the differentiation threshold under several genetic manipulations. We experimentally evaluate several mechanisms for cell size sensing, and our data suggest that this stomatal lineage transition is dependent on a nuclear factor that is sensitive to DNA content.

Axes and polarities in leaf vein formation

For multicellular organisms to develop, cells must grow, divide, and differentiate along preferential or exclusive orientations or directions. Moreover, those orientations, or axes, and directions, or polarities, must be coordinated between cells within and between tissues. Therefore, how axes and polarities are coordinated between cells is a key question in biology. In animals, such coordination mainly depends on cell migration and direct interaction between proteins protruding from the plasma membrane. Both cell movements and direct cell-cell interactions are prevented in plants by cell walls that surround plant cells and keep them apart and in place. Therefore, plants have evolved unique mechanisms to coordinate their cell axes and polarities. Here I will discuss evidence suggesting that understanding how leaf veins form may uncover those unique mechanisms. Indeed, unlike previously thought, the cell-to-cell polar transport of the plant hormone auxin along developing veins cannot account for many features of vein patterning. Instead, those features can be accounted for by models of vein patterning that combine polar auxin transport with auxin diffusion through plasmodesmata along the axis of developing veins. Though it remains unclear whether such a combination of polar transport and axial diffusion of auxin can account for the formation of the variety of vein patterns found in plant leaves, evidence suggests that such a combined mechanism may control plant developmental processes beyond vein patterning.

Stomatal development and orientation: a phylogenetic and ecophysiological perspective

BACKGROUND

Oriented patterning of epidermal cells is achieved primarily by transverse protodermal cell divisions perpendicular to the organ axis, followed by axial cell elongation. In linear leaves with parallel venation, most stomata are regularly aligned with the veins. This longitudinal patterning operates under a strong developmental constraint and has demonstrable physiological benefits, especially in grasses. However, transversely oriented stomata characterize a few groups, among both living angiosperms and extinct Mesozoic seed plants.

SCOPE

This review examines comparative and developmental data on stomatal patterning in a broad phylogenetic context, focusing on the evolutionary and ecophysiological significance of guard-cell orientation. It draws from a diverse range of literature to explore the pivotal roles of the plant growth hormone auxin in establishing polarity and chemical gradients that enable cellular differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Transverse stomata evolved iteratively in a few seed-plant groups during the Mesozoic era, especially among parasitic or xerophytic taxa, such as the hemiparasitic mistletoe genus Viscum and the xerophytic shrub Casuarina, indicating a possible link with ecological factors such as the Cretaceous CO2 decline and changing water availability. The discovery of this feature in some extinct seed-plant taxa known only from fossils could represent a useful phylogenetic marker.

Mapping of the Classical Mutation rosette Highlights a Role for Calcium in Wound-Induced Rooting

Removal of the root system induces the formation of new roots from the remaining shoot. This process is primarily controlled by the phytohormone auxin, which interacts with other signals in a yet unresolved manner. Here, we study the classical tomato mutation rosette (ro), which lacks shoot-borne roots. ro mutants were severely inhibited in formation of wound-induced roots (WiRs) and had reduced auxin transport rates. We mapped ro to the tomato ortholog of the Arabidopsis thaliana BIG and the mammalians UBR4/p600. RO/BIG is a large protein of unknown biochemical function. In A. thaliana, BIG was implicated in regulating auxin transport and calcium homeostasis. We show that exogenous calcium inhibits WiR formation in tomato and A. thaliana ro/big mutants. Exogenous calcium antagonized the root-promoting effects of the auxin indole-3-acetic-acid but not of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, an auxin analog that is not recognized by the polar transport machinery, and accumulation of the auxin transporter PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) was sensitive to calcium levels in the ro/big mutants. Consistent with a role for calcium in mediating auxin transport, both ro/big mutants and calcium-treated wild-type plants were hypersensitive to treatment with polar auxin transport inhibitors. Subcellular localization of BIG suggests that, like its mammalian ortholog, it is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Analysis of subcellular morphology revealed that ro/big mutants exhibited disruption in cytoplasmic streaming. We suggest that RO/BIG maintains auxin flow by stabilizing PIN membrane localization, possibly by attenuating the inhibitory effect of Ca2+ on cytoplasmic streaming.

ARF19 Condensation in the Arabidopsis Stomatal Lineage

The phytohormone auxin regulates nearly every aspect of plant development. Transcriptional responses to auxin are driven by the activities of the AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR family of transcription factors. ARF19 (AT1G19220) is critical in the auxin signaling pathway and has previously been shown to undergo protein condensation to tune auxin responses in the root. However, ARF19 condensation dynamics in other organs has not yet been described. In the Arabidopsis stomatal lineage, we found that ARF19 cytoplasmic condensates are enriched in guard cells and pavement cells, terminally differentiated cells in the leaf epidermis. This result is consistent with previous studies showing ARF19 condensation in mature root tissues. Our data reveal that the sequestration of ARF19 into cytoplasmic condensation in differentiated leaf epidermal cells is similar to root-specific condensation patterns.

Asymmetric cell division in plant development

Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is a fundamental process that generates new cell types during development in eukaryotic species. In plant development, post-embryonic organogenesis driven by ACD is universal and more important than in animals, in which organ pattern is preset during embryogenesis. Thus, plant development provides a powerful system to study molecular mechanisms underlying ACD. During the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of the key components and mechanisms involved in this important process in plants. Here, we present an overview of how ACD is determined and regulated in multiple biological processes in plant development and compare their conservation and specificity among different model cell systems. We also summarize the molecular roles and mechanisms of the phytohormones in the regulation of plant ACD. Finally, we conclude with the overarching paradigms and principles that govern plant ACD and consider how new technologies can be exploited to fill the knowledge gaps and make new advances in the field.

Emerging roles of protein phosphorylation in regulation of stomatal development

Stomata, tiny epidermal spores, control gas exchange between plants and their external environment, thereby playing essential roles in plant development and physiology. Stomatal development requires rapid regulation of components in signaling pathways to respond flexibly to numerous intrinsic and extrinsic signals. In support of this, reversible phosphorylation, which is particularly suitable for rapid signal transduction, has been implicated in this process. This review highlights the current understanding of the essential roles of reversible phosphorylation in the regulation of stomatal development, most of which comes from the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana. Protein phosphorylation tightly controls the activity of SPEECHLESS (SPCH)-SCREAM (SCRM), the stomatal lineage switch, and the activity of several mitogen-activated protein kinases and receptor kinases upstream of SPCH-SCRM, thereby regulating stomatal cell differentiation and patterning. In addition, protein phosphorylation is involved in the establishment of cell polarity during stomatal asymmetric cell division. Finally, cyclin-dependent kinase-mediated protein phosphorylation plays essential roles in cell cycle control during stomatal development.

Leaf vein patterning is regulated by the aperture of plasmodesmata intercellular channels

To form tissue networks, animal cells migrate and interact through proteins protruding from their plasma membranes. Plant cells can do neither, yet plants form vein networks. How plants do so is unclear, but veins are thought to form by the coordinated action of the polar transport and signal transduction of the plant hormone auxin. However, plants inhibited in both pathways still form veins. Patterning of vascular cells into veins is instead prevented in mutants lacking the function of the GNOM (GN) regulator of auxin transport and signaling, suggesting the existence of at least one more GN-dependent vein-patterning pathway. Here we show that in Arabidopsis such a pathway depends on the movement of auxin or an auxin-dependent signal through plasmodesmata (PDs) intercellular channels. PD permeability is high where veins are forming, lowers between veins and nonvascular tissues, but remains high between vein cells. Impaired ability to regulate PD aperture leads to defects in auxin transport and signaling, ultimately leading to vein patterning defects that are enhanced by inhibition of auxin transport or signaling. GN controls PD aperture regulation, and simultaneous inhibition of auxin signaling, auxin transport, and regulated PD aperture phenocopies null gn mutants. Therefore, veins are patterned by the coordinated action of three GN-dependent pathways: auxin signaling, polar auxin transport, and movement of auxin or an auxin-dependent signal through PDs. Such a mechanism of tissue network formation is unprecedented in multicellular organisms.

How do plants form vein networks, in the absence of cellular migration or direct cell-cell interaction? This study shows that a GNOM-dependent combination of polar auxin transport, auxin signal transduction, and movement of an auxin signal through plasmodesmata patterns leaf vascular cells into veins.

The functional specificity of ERECTA-family receptors in Arabidopsis stomatal development is ensured by molecular chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum

Stomata are epidermal pores that control gas exchange between plants and the atmosphere. In Arabidopsis, the ERECTA family (ERECTAf) receptors, including ERECTA, ERECTA-LIKE 1 (ERL1) and ERL2, redundantly play pivotal roles in enforcing the 'one-cell-spacing' rule. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the functional specificities of receptors are likely associated with their differential subcellular dynamics. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident chaperone complex SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP functions in many aspects of plant development. We employed pharmacological treatments combined with cell biological and biochemical approaches to demonstrate that the abundance of ERECTA was reduced in the erdj3b-1 mutant, but the localization and dynamics of ERECTA were not noticeably affected. By contrast, the erdj3b mutation caused the retention of ERL1/ERL2 in the ER. Furthermore, we found that the function of SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP is implicated with the distinct roles of ERECTAf receptors. Our findings establish that the ERECTAf receptor-mediated signaling in stomatal development is ensured by the activities of the ER quality control system, which preferentially maintains the protein abundance of ERECTA and proper subcellular dynamics of ERL1/ERL2, prior to the receptors reaching their destination - the plasma membrane - to execute their functions.

Spatially patterned hydrogen peroxide orchestrates stomatal development in Arabidopsis

Stomatal pores allow gas exchange between plant and atmosphere. Stomatal development is regulated by multiple intrinsic developmental and environmental signals. Here, we show that spatially patterned hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) plays an essential role in stomatal development. H₂O₂ is remarkably enriched in meristemoids, which is established by spatial expression patterns of H₂O₂-scavenging enzyme CAT2 and APX1. SPEECHLESS (SPCH), a master regulator of stomatal development, directly binds to the promoters of CAT2 and APX1 to repress their expression in meristemoid cells. Mutations in CAT2 or APX1 result in an increased stomatal index. Ectopic expression of CAT2 driven by SPCH promoter significantly inhibits the stomatal development. Furthermore, H₂O₂ activates the energy sensor SnRK1 by inducing the nuclear localization of the catalytic α-subunit KIN10, which stabilizes SPCH to promote stomatal development. Overall, these results demonstrate that the spatial pattern of H₂O₂ in epidermal leaves is critical for the optimal stomatal development in Arabidopsis.

Stomatal development is regulated by multiple intrinsic developmental and environmental signals. Here, the authors show that spatially patterned hydrogen peroxide activates the energy sensor SnRK1 to stabilize the SPCH transcription factor and optimize stomatal development in Arabidopsis.

The Adaxial/Abaxial Patterning of Auxin and Auxin Gene in Leaf Veins Functions in Leafy Head Formation of Chinese Cabbage

Leaf curling is an essential prerequisite for the formation of leafy heads in Chinese cabbage. However, the part or tissue that determines leaf curvature remains largely unclear. In this study, we first introduced the auxin-responsive marker DR5::GUS into the Chinese cabbage genome and visualized its expression during the farming season. We demonstrated that auxin response is adaxially/abaxially distributed in leaf veins. Together with the fact that leaf veins occupy considerable proportions of the Chinese cabbage leaf, we propose that leaf veins play a crucial supporting role as a framework for heading. Then, by combining analyses of QTL mapping and a time-course transcriptome from heading Chinese cabbage and non-heading pak choi during the farming season, we identified the auxin-related gene BrPIN5 as a strong candidate for leafy head formation. PIN5 displays an adaxial/abaxial expression pattern in leaf veins, similar to that of DR5::GUS, revealing an involvement of BrPIN5 in leafy head development. The association of BrPIN5 function with heading was further confirmed by its haplo-specificity to heading individuals in both a natural population and two segregating populations. We thus conclude that the adaxial/abaxial patterning of auxin and auxin genes in leaf veins functions in the formation of the leafy head in Chinese cabbage.

Division site determination during asymmetric cell division in plants

During development, both animals and plants exploit asymmetric cell division (ACD) to increase tissue complexity, a process that usually generates cells dissimilar in size, morphology, and fate. Plants lack the key regulators that control ACD in animals. Instead, plants have evolved two unique cytoskeletal structures to tackle this problem: the preprophase band (PPB) and phragmoplast. The assembly of the PPB and phragmoplast and their contributions to division plane orientation have been extensively studied. However, how the division plane is positioned off the cell center during asymmetric division is poorly understood. Over the past 20 years, emerging evidence points to a critical role for polarly localized membrane proteins in this process. Although many of these proteins are species- or cell type specific, and the molecular mechanism underlying division asymmetry is not fully understood, common features such as morphological changes in cells, cytoskeletal dynamics, and nuclear positioning have been observed. In this review, we provide updates on polarity establishment and nuclear positioning during ACD in plants. Together with previous findings about symmetrically dividing cells and the emerging roles of developmental cues, we aim to offer evolutionary insight into a common framework for asymmetric division-site determination and highlight directions for future work.

Cell biology of the leaf epidermis: Fate specification, morphogenesis, and coordination

As the outermost layer of plants, the epidermis serves as a critical interface between plants and the environment. During leaf development, the differentiation of specialized epidermal cell types, including stomatal guard cells, pavement cells, and trichomes, occurs simultaneously, each providing unique and pivotal functions for plant growth and survival. Decades of molecular-genetic and physiological studies have unraveled key players and hormone signaling specifying epidermal differentiation. However, most studies focus on only one cell type at a time, and how these distinct cell types coordinate as a unit is far from well-comprehended. Here we provide a review on the current knowledge of regulatory mechanisms underpinning the fate specification, differentiation, morphogenesis, and positioning of these specialized cell types. Emphasis is given to their shared developmental origins, fate flexibility, as well as cell cycle and hormonal controls. Furthermore, we discuss computational modeling approaches to integrate how mechanical properties of individual epidermal cell types and entire tissue/organ properties mutually influence each other. We hope to illuminate the underlying mechanisms coordinating the cell differentiation that ultimately generate a functional leaf epidermis.

Connected function of PRAF/RLD and GNOM in membrane trafficking controls intrinsic cell polarity in plants

Cell polarity is a fundamental feature underlying cell morphogenesis and organismal development. In the Arabidopsis stomatal lineage, the polarity protein BASL controls stomatal asymmetric cell division. However, the cellular machinery by which this intrinsic polarity site is established remains unknown. Here, we identify the PRAF/RLD proteins as BASL physical partners and mutating four PRAF members leads to defects in BASL polarization. Members of PRAF proteins are polarized in stomatal lineage cells in a BASL-dependent manner. Developmental defects of the praf mutants phenocopy those of the gnom mutants. GNOM is an activator of the conserved Arf GTPases and plays important roles in membrane trafficking. We further find PRAF physically interacts with GNOM in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we propose that the positive feedback of BASL and PRAF at the plasma membrane and the connected function of PRAF and GNOM in endosomal trafficking establish intrinsic cell polarity in the Arabidopsis stomatal lineage.

Using quantitative methods to understand leaf epidermal development

As the interface between plants and the environment, the leaf epidermis provides the first layer of protection against drought, ultraviolet light, and pathogen attack. This cell layer comprises highly coordinated and specialised cells such as stomata, pavement cells and trichomes. While much has been learned from the genetic dissection of stomatal, trichome and pavement cell formation, emerging methods in quantitative measurements that monitor cellular or tissue dynamics will allow us to further investigate cell state transitions and fate determination in leaf epidermal development. In this review, we introduce the formation of epidermal cell types in Arabidopsis and provide examples of quantitative tools to describe phenotypes in leaf research. We further focus on cellular factors involved in triggering cell fates and their quantitative measurements in mechanistic studies and biological patterning. A comprehensive understanding of how a functional leaf epidermis develops will advance the breeding of crops with improved stress tolerance.

A simple method for the application of exogenous phytohormones to the grass leaf base protodermal zone to improve grass leaf epidermis development research

BACKGROUND

The leaf epidermis functions to prevent the loss of water and reduce gas exchange. As an interface between the plant and its external environment, it helps prevent damage, making it an attractive system for studying cell fate and development. In monocotyledons, the leaf epidermis grows from the basal meristem that contains protodermal cells. Leaf protoderm zone is covered by the leaf sheath or coleoptile in maize and wheat, preventing traditional exogenous phytohormone application methods, such as directly spraying on the leaf surface or indirectly via culture media, from reaching the protoderm areas directly. The lack of a suitable application method limits research on the effect of phytohormone on the development of grass epidermis.

RESULTS

Here, we describe a direct and straightforward method to apply exogenous phytohormones to the leaf protoderms of maize and wheat. We used the auxin analogs 2,4-D and cytokinin analogs 6-BA to test the system. After 2,4-D treatment, the asymmetrical division events and initial stomata development were decreased, and the subsidiary cells were induced in maize, the number of GMC (guard mother cell), SMC (subsidiary mother cell) and young stomata were increased in wheat, and the size of the epidermal cells increased after 6-BA treatment in maize. Thus, the method is suitable for the application of phytohormone to the grass leaf protodermal areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The method to apply hormones to the mesocotyls of maize and wheat seedlings is simple and direct. Only a small amount of externally applied substances are needed to complete the procedure in this method. The entire experimental process lasts for ten days generally, and it is easy to evaluate the phytohormones' effect on the epidermis development.

Phenotyping stomatal closure by thermal imaging for GWAS and TWAS of water use efficiency-related genes

Stomata allow CO2 uptake by leaves for photosynthetic assimilation at the cost of water vapor loss to the atmosphere. The opening and closing of stomata in response to fluctuations in light intensity regulate CO2 and water fluxes and are essential for maintaining water-use efficiency (WUE). However, a little is known about the genetic basis for natural variation in stomatal movement, especially in C4 crops. This is partly because the stomatal response to a change in light intensity is difficult to measure at the scale required for association studies. Here, we used high-throughput thermal imaging to bypass the phenotyping bottleneck and assess 10 traits describing stomatal conductance (gs) before, during and after a stepwise decrease in light intensity for a diversity panel of 659 sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) accessions. Results from thermal imaging significantly correlated with photosynthetic gas exchange measurements. gs traits varied substantially across the population and were moderately heritable (h2 up to 0.72). An integrated genome-wide and transcriptome-wide association study identified candidate genes putatively driving variation in stomatal conductance traits. Of the 239 unique candidate genes identified with the greatest confidence, 77 were putative orthologs of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genes related to functions implicated in WUE, including stomatal opening/closing (24 genes), stomatal/epidermal cell development (35 genes), leaf/vasculature development (12 genes), or chlorophyll metabolism/photosynthesis (8 genes). These findings demonstrate an approach to finding genotype-to-phenotype relationships for a challenging trait as well as candidate genes for further investigation of the genetic basis of WUE in a model C4 grass for bioenergy, food, and forage production.

AlRab7 from Aeluropus lagopoides ameliorates ion toxicity in transgenic tobacco by regulating hormone signaling and reactive oxygen species homeostasis

The plants endomembrane system of the cellular compartments with its complex membrane trafficking network facilitates transport of macromolecules. The endomembrane dynamics are essential for maintaining basic and specific cellular functions including adaptation to the extracellular environment. The plant vacuole serves as a reservoir for nutrients and toxic metabolites and performs detoxification processes to maintain cellular homeostasis. The overexpression of AlRab7, a vesicle trafficking gene from Aeluropus lagopoides, improved germination and growth and reduced ionic and oxidative stress in transgenics. Moreover, the root and shoot of transgenic tobacco showed differential accumulation of phytohormone ABA and IAA with different ionic stresses. The improved growth (root and shoot length) can be co-related with higher IAA accumulation with NaCl stress. The low Na+ /K+ ratio with different NaCl stress treatments indicates better ion homeostasis in transgenics. Furthermore, the increased stomatal density and higher number of open stomata on both leaf surfaces in transgenics during NaCl stress suggest better gaseous exchange/functioning of guard cells. The maintained or increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and glutathione reductase antioxidative enzyme activities suggest that an extensive reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system was triggered to detoxify cellular ROS, which remained at low levels in transgenics during the different stress treatments. Our results suggest that the AlRab7 transgenic tobacco ameliorates ionic stress by facilitating differential and selective ion transport at vacuolar membrane regulating hormone signaling, ROS homeostasis, stomatal development, and movement.

Role of Basal ABA in Plant Growth and Development

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates various aspects of plant physiology, including promoting seed dormancy and adaptive responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. In addition, ABA plays an im-portant role in growth and development under non-stressed conditions. This review summarizes phenotypes of ABA biosynthesis and signaling mutants to clarify the roles of basal ABA in growth and development. The promotive and inhibitive actions of ABA in growth are characterized by stunted and enhanced growth of ABA-deficient and insensitive mutants, respectively. Growth regulation by ABA is both promotive and inhibitive, depending on the context, such as concentrations, tissues, and environmental conditions. Basal ABA regulates local growth including hyponastic growth, skotomorphogenesis and lateral root growth. At the cellular level, basal ABA is essential for proper chloroplast biogenesis, central metabolism, and expression of cell-cycle genes. Basal ABA also regulates epidermis development in the shoot, by inhibiting stomatal development, and deposition of hydrophobic polymers like a cuticular wax layer covering the leaf surface. In the root, basal ABA is involved in xylem differentiation and suberization of the endodermis. Hormone crosstalk plays key roles in growth and developmental processes regulated by ABA. Phenotypes of ABA-deficient and insensitive mutants indicate prominent functions of basal ABA in plant growth and development.

Manganese toxicity disrupts indole acetic acid homeostasis and suppresses the CO2 assimilation reaction in rice leaves

Despite the essentiality of Mn in terrestrial plants, its excessive accumulation in plant tissues can cause growth defects, known as Mn toxicity. Mn toxicity can be classified into apoplastic and symplastic types depending on its onset. Symplastic Mn toxicity is hypothesised to be more critical for growth defects. However, details of the relationship between growth defects and symplastic Mn toxicity remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying symplastic Mn toxicity in rice plants. We found that under excess Mn conditions, CO₂ assimilation was inhibited by stomatal closure, and both carbon anabolic and catabolic activities were decreased. In addition to stomatal dysfunction, stomatal and leaf anatomical development were also altered by excess Mn accumulation. Furthermore, indole acetic acid (IAA) concentration was decreased, and auxin-responsive gene expression analyses showed IAA-deficient symptoms in leaves due to excess Mn accumulation. These results suggest that excessive Mn accumulation causes IAA deficiency, and low IAA concentrations suppress plant growth by suppressing stomatal opening and leaf anatomical development for efficient CO₂ assimilation in leaves.

SNARE proteins VAMP721 and VAMP722 mediate the post-Golgi trafficking required for auxin-mediated development in Arabidopsis

The plant hormone auxin controls many aspects of plant development. Membrane trafficking processes, such as secretion, endocytosis and recycling, regulate the polar localization of auxin transporters in order to establish an auxin concentration gradient. Here, we investigate the function of the Arabidopsis thaliana R-SNAREs VESICLE-ASSOCIATED MEMBRANE PROTEIN 721 (VAMP721) and VAMP722 in the post-Golgi trafficking required for proper auxin distribution and seedling growth. We show that multiple growth phenotypes, such as cotyledon development, vein patterning and lateral root growth, were defective in the double homozygous vamp721 vamp722 mutant. Abnormal auxin distribution and root patterning were also observed in the mutant seedlings. Fluorescence imaging revealed that three auxin transporters, PIN-FORMED 1 (PIN1), PIN2 and AUXIN RESISTANT 1 (AUX1), aberrantly accumulate within the cytoplasm of the double mutant, impairing the polar localization at the plasma membrane (PM). Analysis of intracellular trafficking demonstrated the involvement of VAMP721 and VAMP722 in the endocytosis of FM4-64 and the secretion and recycling of the PIN2 transporter protein to the PM, but not its trafficking to the vacuole. Furthermore, vamp721 vamp722 mutant roots display enlarged trans-Golgi network (TGN) structures, as indicated by the subcellular localization of a variety of marker proteins and the ultrastructure observed using transmission electron microscopy. Thus, our results suggest that the R-SNAREs VAMP721 and VAMP722 mediate the post-Golgi trafficking of auxin transporters to the PM from the TGN subdomains, substantially contributing to plant growth.

Establishing asymmetry: stomatal division and differentiation in plants

In the leaf epidermis, stomatal pores allow gas exchange between plants and the environment. The production of stomatal guard cells requires the lineage cells to divide asymmetrically. In this Insight review, we describe an emerging picture of how intrinsic molecules drive stomatal asymmetric cell division in multidimensions, from transcriptional activities in the nucleus to the dynamic assembly of the polarity complex at the cell cortex. Given the significant roles of stomatal activity in plant responses to environmental changes, we incorporate recent advances in external cues feeding into the regulation of core molecular machinery required for stomatal development. The work we discuss here is mainly based on the dicot plant Arabidopsis thaliana with summaries of recent progress in the monocots.

Stomatal development in the context of epidermal tissues

BACKGROUND

Stomata are adjustable pores on the surface of plant shoots for efficient gas exchange and water control. The presence of stomata is essential for plant growth and survival, and the evolution of stomata is considered as a key developmental innovation of the land plants, allowing colonization on land from aquatic environments some 450 million years ago. In the past two decades, molecular genetic studies using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana identified key genes and signalling modules that regulate stomatal development: master regulatory transcription factors that orchestrate cell state transitions and peptide-receptor signal transduction pathways, which, together, enforce proper patterning of stomata within the epidermis. Studies in diverse plant species, ranging from bryophytes to angiosperm grasses, have begun to unravel the conservation and uniqueness of the core modules in stomatal development.

SCOPE

Here, I review the mechanisms of stomatal development in the context of epidermal tissue patterning. First, I introduce the core regulatory mechanisms of stomatal patterning and differentiation in the model species A. thaliana. Subsequently, experimental evidence is presented supporting the idea that different cell types within the leaf epidermis, namely stomata, hydathodes pores, pavement cells and trichomes, either share developmental origins or mutually influence each other's gene regulatory circuits during development. Emphasis is placed on extrinsic and intrinsic signals regulating the balance between stomata and pavement cells, specifically by controlling the fate of stomatal-lineage ground cells (SLGCs) to remain within the stomatal cell lineage or differentiate into pavement cells. Finally, I discuss the influence of intertissue layer communication between the epidermis and underlying mesophyll/vascular tissues on stomatal differentiation. Understanding the dynamic behaviours of stomatal precursor cells and their differentiation in the broader context of tissue and organ development may help design plants tailored for optimal growth and productivity in specific agricultural applications and a changing environment.

The Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase Beta Subunit Is Essential for Embryo and Seed Development in Arabidopsis thaliana

Auxin is a key regulator of plant development affecting the formation and maturation of reproductive structures. The apoplastic route of auxin transport engages influx and efflux facilitators from the PIN, AUX and ABCB families. The polar localization of these proteins and constant recycling from the plasma membrane to endosomes is dependent on Rab-mediated vesicular traffic. Rab proteins are anchored to membranes via posttranslational addition of two geranylgeranyl moieties by the Rab Geranylgeranyl Transferase enzyme (RGT), which consists of RGTA, RGTB and REP subunits. Here, we present data showing that seed development in the rgtb1 mutant, with decreased vesicular transport capacity, is disturbed. Both pre- and post-fertilization events are affected, leading to a decrease in seed yield. Pollen tube recognition at the stigma and its guidance to the micropyle is compromised and the seed coat forms incorrectly. Excess auxin in the sporophytic tissues of the ovule in the rgtb1 plants leads to an increased tendency of autonomous endosperm formation in unfertilized ovules and influences embryo development in a maternal sporophytic manner. The results show the importance of vesicular traffic for sexual reproduction in flowering plants, and highlight RGTB1 as a key component of sporophytic-filial signaling.

Mechanobiology of cell division in plant growth

Cell division in plants is particularly important as cells cannot rearrange. It therefore determines the arrangement of cells (topology) and their size and shape (geometry). Cell division reduces mechanical stress locally by producing smaller cells and alters mechanical properties by reinforcing the mechanical wall network, both of which can alter overall tissue morphology. Division orientation is often regarded as following geometric rules, however recent work has suggested that divisions align with the direction of maximal tensile stress. Mechanical stress has already been shown to feed into many processes of development including those that alter mechanical properties. Such an alignment may enable cell division to selectively reinforce the cell wall network in the direction of maximal tensile stress. Therefore there exists potential feedback between cell division, mechanical stress and growth. Improving our understanding of this topic will help to shed light on the debated role of cell division in organ scale growth.

Solving the Puzzle of Shape Regulation in Plant Epidermal Pavement Cells

The plant epidermis serves many essential functions, including interactions with the environment, protection, mechanical strength, and regulation of tissue and organ growth. To achieve these functions, specialized epidermal cells develop into particular shapes. These include the intriguing interdigitated jigsaw puzzle shape of cotyledon and leaf pavement cells seen in many species, the precise functions of which remain rather obscure. Although pavement cell shape regulation is complex and still a long way from being fully understood, the roles of the cell wall, mechanical stresses, cytoskeleton, cytoskeletal regulatory proteins, and phytohormones are becoming clearer. Here, we provide a review of this current knowledge of pavement cell morphogenesis, generated from a wealth of experimental evidence and assisted by computational modeling approaches. We also discuss the evolution and potential functions of pavement cell interdigitation. Throughout the review, we highlight some of the thought-provoking controversies and creative theories surrounding the formation of the curious puzzle shape of these cells.

ZmSPL10/14/26 are required for epidermal hair cell fate specification on maize leaf

The epidermal hair and stomata are two types of specialized structures on the surface of plant leaves. On mature maize leaves, stomatal complexes and three types of hairs are distributed in a stereotyped pattern on the adaxial epidermis. However, the spatiotemporal relationship between epidermal hair and stomata development and the regulatory mechanisms governing their formation in maize remain largely unknown. Here, we report that three homologous ZmSPL transcription factors, ZmSPL10, ZmSPL14 and ZmSPL26, act in concert to promote epidermal hair fate on maize leaf. Cytological analyses revealed that Zmspl10/14/26 triple mutants are completely glabrous, but possess ectopic stomatal files. Strikingly, the precursor cells for prickle and bicellular hairs are transdifferentiated into ectopic stomatal complexes in the Zmspl10/14/26 mutants. Molecular analyses demonstrated that ZmSPL10/14/26 bind directly to the promoter of a WUSCHEL-related homeobox gene, ZmWOX3A, and upregulate its expression in the hair precursor cells. Moreover, several auxin-related genes are downregulated in the Zmspl10/14/26 triple mutants. Our results suggest that ZmSPL10/14/26 play a key role in promoting epidermal hair fate on maize leaves, possibly through regulating ZmWOX3A and auxin-related gene expression, and that the fates of epidermal hairs and stomata are switchable.

Phytohormones and their crosstalk in regulating stomatal development and patterning

Phytohormones play important roles in regulating various aspects of plant growth and development as well as in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Stomata are openings on the surface of land plants that control gas exchange with the environment. Accumulating evidence shows that various phytohormones, including abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, brassinosteroids, auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, and gibberellic acid, play many roles in the regulation of stomatal development and patterning, and that the cotyledons/leaves and hypocotyls/stems of Arabidopsis exhibit differential responsiveness to phytohormones. In this review, we first discuss the shared regulatory mechanisms controlling stomatal development and patterning in Arabidopsis cotyledons and hypocotyls and those that are distinct. We then summarize current knowledge of how distinct hormonal signaling circuits are integrated into the core stomatal development pathways and how different phytohormones crosstalk to tailor stomatal density and spacing patterns. Knowledge obtained from Arabidopsis may pave the way for future research to elucidate the effects of phytohormones in regulating stomatal development and patterning in cereal grasses for the purpose of increasing crop adaptive responses.

Tuning self-renewal in the Arabidopsis stomatal lineage by hormone and nutrient regulation of asymmetric cell division

Asymmetric and self-renewing divisions build and pattern tissues. In the Arabidopsis stomatal lineage, asymmetric cell divisions, guided by polarly localized cortical proteins, generate most cells on the leaf surface. Systemic and environmental signals modify tissue development, but the mechanisms by which plants incorporate such cues to regulate asymmetric divisions are elusive. In a screen for modulators of cell polarity, we identified CONSTITUTIVE TRIPLE RESPONSE1, a negative regulator of ethylene signaling. We subsequently revealed antagonistic impacts of ethylene and glucose signaling on the self-renewing capacity of stomatal lineage stem cells. Quantitative analysis of cell polarity and fate dynamics showed that developmental information may be encoded in both the spatial and temporal asymmetries of polarity proteins. These results provide a framework for a mechanistic understanding of how nutritional status and environmental factors tune stem-cell behavior in the stomatal lineage, ultimately enabling flexibility in leaf size and cell-type composition.

Rab-dependent vesicular traffic affects female gametophyte development in Arabidopsis

Eukaryotic cells rely on the accuracy and efficiency of vesicular traffic. In plants, disturbances in vesicular trafficking are well studied in quickly dividing root meristem cells or polar growing root hairs and pollen tubes. The development of the female gametophyte, a unique haploid reproductive structure located in the ovule, has received far less attention in studies of vesicular transport. Key molecules providing the specificity of vesicle formation and its subsequent recognition and fusion with the acceptor membrane are Rab proteins. Rabs are anchored to membranes by covalently linked geranylgeranyl group(s) that are added by the Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGT) enzyme. Here we show that Arabidopsis plants carrying mutations in the gene encoding the β-subunit of RGT (rgtb1) exhibit severely disrupted female gametogenesis and this effect is of sporophytic origin. Mutations in rgtb1 lead to internalization of the PIN1 and PIN3 proteins from the basal membranes to vesicles in provascular cells of the funiculus. Decreased transport of auxin out of the ovule is accompanied by auxin accumulation in tissue surrounding the growing gametophyte. In addition, female gametophyte development arrests at the uni- or binuclear stage in a significant portion of the rgtb1 ovules. These observations suggest that communication between the sporophyte and the developing female gametophyte relies on Rab-dependent vesicular traffic of the PIN1 and PIN3 transporters and auxin efflux out of the ovule.

Salinity Effects on Guard Cell Proteome in Chenopodium quinoa

Epidermal fragments enriched in guard cells (GCs) were isolated from the halophyte quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.) species, and the response at the proteome level was studied after salinity treatment of 300 mM NaCl for 3 weeks. In total, 2147 proteins were identified, of which 36% were differentially expressed in response to salinity stress in GCs. Up and downregulated proteins included signaling molecules, enzyme modulators, transcription factors and oxidoreductases. The most abundant proteins induced by salt treatment were desiccation-responsive protein 29B (50-fold), osmotin-like protein OSML13 (13-fold), polycystin-1, lipoxygenase, alpha-toxin, and triacylglycerol lipase (PLAT) domain-containing protein 3-like (eight-fold), and dehydrin early responsive to dehydration (ERD14) (eight-fold). Ten proteins related to the gene ontology term “response to ABA” were upregulated in quinoa GC; this included aspartic protease, phospholipase D and plastid-lipid-associated protein. Additionally, seven proteins in the sucrose–starch pathway were upregulated in the GC in response to salinity stress, and accumulation of tryptophan synthase and L-methionine synthase (enzymes involved in the amino acid biosynthesis) was observed. Exogenous application of sucrose and tryptophan, L-methionine resulted in reduction in stomatal aperture and conductance, which could be advantageous for plants under salt stress. Eight aspartic proteinase proteins were highly upregulated in GCs of quinoa, and exogenous application of pepstatin A (an inhibitor of aspartic proteinase) was accompanied by higher oxidative stress and extremely low stomatal aperture and conductance, suggesting a possible role of aspartic proteinase in mitigating oxidative stress induced by saline conditions.

Plant cell divisions: variations from the shortest symmetric path

In plants, the spatial arrangement of cells within tissues and organs is a direct consequence of the positioning of the new cell walls during cell division. Since the nineteenth century, scientists have proposed rules to explain the orientation of plant cell divisions. Most of these rules predict the new wall will follow the shortest path passing through the cell centroid halving the cell into two equal volumes. However, in some developmental contexts, divisions deviate significantly from this rule. In these situations, mechanical stress, hormonal signalling, or cell polarity have been described to influence the division path. Here we discuss the mechanism and subcellular structure required to define the cell division placement then we provide an overview of the situations where division deviates from the shortest symmetric path.

Functional innovations of PIN auxin transporters mark crucial evolutionary transitions during rise of flowering plants

Flowering plants display the highest diversity among plant species and have notably shaped terrestrial landscapes. Nonetheless, the evolutionary origin of their unprecedented morphological complexity remains largely an enigma. Here, we show that the coevolution of cis-regulatory and coding regions of PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin transporters confined their expression to certain cell types and directed their subcellular localization to particular cell sides, which together enabled dynamic auxin gradients across tissues critical to the complex architecture of flowering plants. Extensive intraspecies and interspecies genetic complementation experiments with PINs from green alga up to flowering plant lineages showed that PIN genes underwent three subsequent, critical evolutionary innovations and thus acquired a triple function to regulate the development of three essential components of the flowering plant Arabidopsis: shoot/root, inflorescence, and floral organ. Our work highlights the critical role of functional innovations within the PIN gene family as essential prerequisites for the origin of flowering plants.

N-glycosylation is involved in stomatal development by modulating the release of active abscisic acid and auxin in Arabidopsis

Asparagine-linked glycosylation (N-glycosylation) is one of the most important protein modifications in eukaryotes, affecting the folding, transport, and function of a wide range of proteins. However, little is known about the roles of N-glycosylation in the development of stomata in plants. In the present study, we provide evidence that the Arabidopsis stt3a-2 mutant, defective in oligosaccharyltransferase catalytic subunit STT3, has a greater transpirational water loss and weaker drought avoidance, accompanied by aberrant stomatal distribution. Through physiological, biochemical, and genetic analyses, we found that the abnormal stomatal density of stt3a-2 was partially attributed to low endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA) content. Exogenous application of ABA or IAA could partially rescue the mutant's salt-sensitive and abnormal stomatal phenotype. Further analyses revealed that the decrease of IAA or ABA in stt3a-2 seedlings was associated with the underglycosylation of β-glucosidase (AtBG1), catalysing the conversion of conjugated ABA/IAA to active hormone. Our results provide strong evidence that N-glycosylation is involved in stomatal development and participates in abiotic stress tolerance by modulating the release of active plant hormones.

OsHDA710-Mediated Histone Deacetylation Regulates Callus Formation of Rice Mature Embryo

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play important roles in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. The role of HDACs in specialized transcriptional regulation and biological processes is poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the global expression patterns of genes related to epigenetic modifications during callus initiation in rice. We found that the repression of HDAC activity by trichostatin A (TSA) or by OsHDA710 mutation (hda710) results in impaired callus formation of rice mature embryo and increased global histone H3 acetylation levels. The HDAC inhibition decreased auxin response and cell proliferation in callus formation. Meanwhile, the transcriptional repressors OsARF18 and OsARF22 were upregulated in the callus of hda710. The chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) analysis demonstrated that the callus of hda710 exhibited enhanced histone H3 acetylation levels at the chromatin regions of OsARF18 and OsARF22. Furthermore, we found that OsARF18 and OsARF22 were regulated through OsHDA710 recruitment to their target loci. In addition, overexpression of OsARF18 decreased the transcription of downstream genes PLT1 and PLT2 and inhibited callus formation of the mature embryo. These results demonstrate that OsHDA710 regulates callus formation by suppressing repressive OsARFs via histone deacetylation during callus formation of rice mature embryo. This indicates that OsHDA710-mediated histone deacetylation is an epigenetic regulation pathway for maintaining auxin response during cell dedifferentiation.

Photosynthesis in a Changing Global Climate: Scaling Up and Scaling Down in Crops

Photosynthesis is the major process leading to primary production in the Biosphere. There is a total of 7000bn tons of CO2 in the atmosphere and photosynthesis fixes more than 100bn tons annually. The CO2 assimilated by the photosynthetic apparatus is the basis of crop production and, therefore, of animal and human food. This has led to a renewed interest in photosynthesis as a target to increase plant production and there is now increasing evidence showing that the strategy of improving photosynthetic traits can increase plant yield. However, photosynthesis and the photosynthetic apparatus are both conditioned by environmental variables such as water availability, temperature, [CO2], salinity, and ozone. The "omics" revolution has allowed a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms regulating stress responses including the identification of genes and proteins involved in the regulation, acclimation, and adaptation of processes that impact photosynthesis. The development of novel non-destructive high-throughput phenotyping techniques has been important to monitor crop photosynthetic responses to changing environmental conditions. This wealth of data is being incorporated into new modeling algorithms to predict plant growth and development under specific environmental constraints. This review gives a multi-perspective description of the impact of changing environmental conditions on photosynthetic performance and consequently plant growth by briefly highlighting how major technological advances including omics, high-throughput photosynthetic measurements, metabolic engineering, and whole plant photosynthetic modeling have helped to improve our understanding of how the photosynthetic machinery can be modified by different abiotic stresses and thus impact crop production.

Fluctuating auxin response gradients determine pavement cell-shape acquisition

As the outermost cell layer of an organism, the epidermis plays a key role in controlling morphogenesis. In this work, we investigated cell-shape regulation in young, lobing pavement cells of the Arabidopsis leaf epidermis. By taking advantage of their developmental synchrony, we showed that the establishment of a local auxin gradient is necessary for the initiation of first-lobe formation. However, the auxin gradient is not stable over time but rather fluctuates according to the particular developmental stage of the cells. These changes are established by the specific distribution of auxin transporters at the different membranes of these young pavement cells. This work reports an observation of auxin fluctuation during cell-shape determination in plants.

Puzzle-shaped pavement cells provide a powerful model system to investigate the cellular and subcellular processes underlying complex cell-shape determination in plants. To better understand pavement cell-shape acquisition and the role of auxin in this process, we focused on the spirals of young stomatal lineage ground cells of Arabidopsis leaf epidermis. The predictability of lobe formation in these cells allowed us to demonstrate that the auxin response gradient forms within the cells of the spiral and fluctuates based on the particular stage of lobe development. We revealed that specific localization of auxin transporters at the different membranes of these young cells changes during the course of lobe formation, suggesting that these fluctuating auxin response gradients are orchestrated via auxin transport to control lobe formation and determine pavement cell shape.

Arp2/3 Complex Is Required for Auxin-Driven Cell Expansion Through Regulation of Auxin Transporter Homeostasis

The Arp2/3 complex is an actin nucleator shown to be required throughout plant morphogenesis, contributing to processes such as cell expansion, tissue differentiation or cell wall assembly. A recent publication demonstrated that plants lacking functional Arp2/3 complex also present defects in auxin distribution and transport. This work shows that Arp2/3 complex subunits are predominantly expressed in the provasculature, although other plant tissues also show promoter activity (e.g., cotyledons, apical meristems, or root tip). Moreover, auxin can trigger subunit expression, indicating a role of this phytohormone in mediating the complex activity. Further investigation of the functional interaction between Arp2/3 complex and auxin signaling also reveals their cooperation in determining pavement cell shape, presumably through the role of Arp2/3 complex in the correct auxin carrier trafficking. Young seedlings of arpc5 mutants show increased auxin-triggered proteasomal degradation of DII-VENUS and altered PIN3 distribution, with higher levels of the protein in the vacuole. Closer observation of vacuolar morphology revealed the presence of a more fragmented vacuolar compartment when Arp2/3 function is abolished, hinting a generalized role of Arp2/3 complex in endomembrane function and protein trafficking.

Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris) Guard Cells Responses to Salinity Stress: A Proteomic Analysis

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint affecting crop growth and threatening global food security. Plants adapt to salinity by optimizing the performance of stomata. Stomata are formed by two guard cells (GCs) that are morphologically and functionally distinct from the other leaf cells. These microscopic sphincters inserted into the wax-covered epidermis of the shoot balance CO₂ intake for photosynthetic carbon gain and concomitant water loss. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying stomatal function under saline conditions, we used proteomics approach to study isolated GCs from the salt-tolerant sugar beet species. Of the 2088 proteins identified in sugar beet GCs, 82 were differentially regulated by salt treatment. According to bioinformatics analysis (GO enrichment analysis and protein classification), these proteins were involved in lipid metabolism, cell wall modification, ATP biosynthesis, and signaling. Among the significant differentially abundant proteins, several proteins classified as "stress proteins" were upregulated, including non-specific lipid transfer protein, chaperone proteins, heat shock proteins, inorganic pyrophosphatase 2, responsible for energized vacuole membrane for ion transportation. Moreover, several antioxidant enzymes (peroxide, superoxidase dismutase) were highly upregulated. Furthermore, cell wall proteins detected in GCs provided some evidence that GC walls were more flexible in response to salt stress. Proteins such as L-ascorbate oxidase that were constitutively high under both control and high salinity conditions may contribute to the ability of sugar beet GCs to adapt to salinity by mitigating salinity-induced oxidative stress.

The Winner Takes It All: Auxin-The Main Player during Plant Embryogenesis

In plants, the first asymmetrical division of a zygote leads to the formation of two cells with different developmental fates. The establishment of various patterns relies on spatial and temporal gene expression, however the precise mechanism responsible for embryonic patterning still needs elucidation. Auxin seems to be the main player which regulates embryo development and controls expression of various genes in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, local auxin maxima and minima which are provided by polar auxin transport underlie cell fate specification. Diverse auxin concentrations in various regions of an embryo would easily explain distinct cell identities, however the question about the mechanism of cellular patterning in cells exposed to similar auxin concentrations still remains open. Thus, specification of cell fate might result not only from the cell position within an embryo but also from events occurring before and during mitosis. This review presents the impact of auxin on the orientation of the cell division plane and discusses the mechanism of auxin-dependent cytoskeleton alignment. Furthermore, close attention is paid to auxin-induced calcium fluxes, which regulate the activity of MAPKs during postembryonic development and which possibly might also underlie cellular patterning during embryogenesis.

Hydrogen sulfide acts downstream of jasmonic acid to inhibit stomatal development in Arabidopsis

Main conclusion: Jasmonic acid (JA) negatively regulates stomatal development by promoting LCD expression and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) biosynthesis. H₂S inhibits the initiation of stomata formation and acts upstream of SPEECHLESS. Abstract: Stomatal development is strictly regulated by endogenous signals and environmental cues. We recently revealed that jasmonic acid (JA) negatively regulates stomatal development in Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledons (Han et al., Plant Physiol 176:2871-2885, 2018), but the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we uncovered a role for H₂S in regulating stomatal development. The H₂S scavenger hypotaurine reversed the JA-induced repression of stomatal development in the epidermis of wild-type Arabidopsis. The H₂S-deficient mutant lcd displayed increased stomatal density and stomatal index values, which were rescued by treatment with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS; an H₂S donor) but not JA, suggesting that JA-mediated repression of stomatal development is dependent on H₂S biosynthesis. The high stomatal density of JA-deficient mutants was rescued by exogenous NaHS treatment. Further analysis indicated that JA positively regulates LCD expression, L-cysteine desulfhydrases (L-CDes) activity, and endogenous H₂S content. Furthermore, H₂S represses the expression of stomate-associated genes and functions downstream of stomate-related signaling pathway components TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM) and STOMATAL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION1 (SDD1) and upstream of SPEECHLESS (SPCH). Therefore, H₂S acts downstream of JA signaling to regulate stomatal development in Arabidopsis cotyledons.

SPEECHLESS Speaks Loudly in Stomatal Development

Stomata, the small pores on the epidermis of plant shoot, control gas exchange between the plant and environment and play key roles in plant physiology, evolution, and global ecology. Stomatal development is initiated by the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor SPEECHLESS (SPCH), whose central importance in stomatal development has recently come to light. SPCH integrates intralineage signals and serves as an acceptor of hormonal and environmental signals to regulate stomatal density and patterning during the development. SPCH also plays a direct role in regulating asymmetric cell division in the stomatal lineage. Owing to its importance in stomatal development, SPCH expression is tightly and spatiotemporally regulated. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the SPCH-mediated regulation of stomatal development, reinforcing the idea that SPCH is the central molecular hub for stomatal development.

Cell polarity: Regulators and mechanisms in plants

Cell polarity plays an important role in a wide range of biological processes in plant growth and development. Cell polarity is manifested as the asymmetric distribution of molecules, for example, proteins and lipids, at the plasma membrane and/or inside of a cell. Here, we summarize a few polarized proteins that have been characterized in plants and we review recent advances towards understanding the molecular mechanism for them to polarize at the plasma membrane. Multiple mechanisms, including membrane trafficking, cytoskeletal activities, and protein phosphorylation, and so forth define the polarized plasma membrane domains. Recent discoveries suggest that the polar positioning of the proteo-lipid membrane domain may instruct the formation of polarity complexes in plants. In this review, we highlight the factors and regulators for their functions in establishing the membrane asymmetries in plant development. Furthermore, we discuss a few outstanding questions to be addressed to better understand the mechanisms by which cell polarity is regulated in plants.

Seasonal change in response of stomatal conductance to vapor pressure deficit and three phytohormones in three tree species

Stomatal behavior under global climate change is a central topic of plant ecophysiological research. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and phytohormones can affect stomata of leaves which can affect gas exchange characteristics of plant. The role of VPD in regulating leaf gas exchange of three tree species was investigated in Jinan, China. Experiments were performed in June, August, and October. Levels of three phytohormones (GA₃, IAA, ABA) in the leaves of the three trees were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in three seasons. The responses of stomatal conductance (g_s) to an increasing VPD in the leaves of the three trees had peak curves under different seasons, which differed from the prevailing response pattern of g_s to VPD in most literature. The peak curve could be fitted with a Log-Normal Model (R² = 0.838-0.995). The VPD/RH values of the corresponding maximum of g_s (g_s-max-VPD/RH) could be calculated by fitted models. The g_s-max-RH could be affected by environmental conditions, because of positive correlation between g_s-max-RH and the mean monthly temperature in 2010 (R² > 0.81). Two typical stomatal models (the Leuning model and the optimal stomatal behavior model) were used to estimate g_s values, but they poorly predicted g_s in the three trees. The concentration of ABA was positively correlated to sensitivity in response of stomatal conductance to VPD in the leaves of the tree species during the different seasons.