Transcriptional evidence of pluripotency during development of the leaf gall formed by grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae).

ABSTRACT: Galls are structures formed by plants in response to stimuli by parasitic insects. Because galls require altered gene expression to change cell fates, their initiation requires pluripotent or 'reactive' cells. We used RNA sequencing to test three hypotheses about potential sources of pluripotency in the leaf gall formed by grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae). We postulated that the insect might express ectopically genes regulating apical meristem pluripotency, exploit preexisting meristems, or induce callus cells de novo. We found that phylloxera exploits preexisting cambial and leaf meristems and promotes callus formation. Pluripotency gene expression increases as leaf cells differentiate, extending gall induction opportunity. Auxin regulates pluripotency gene expression. We foun

SUBMITTER: Schultz JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12267926 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature