HEADLESS, a WUSCHEL homolog, uncovers novel aspects of shoot meristem regulation and leaf blade development in Medicago truncatula.

ABSTRACT: The formation and maintenance of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) are critical for plant development. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of regulating meristematic cell activity is poorly understood in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Using forward genetic approaches, we identified HEADLESS (HDL), a homolog of Arabidopsis WUSCHEL, required for SAM maintenance and leaf development in M. truncatula. Disruption of HDL led to disorganized specification and arrest of the SAM and axillary meristems, resulting in the hdl mutant being locked in the vegetative phase without apparent stem elongation. hdl mutant leaves are shorter in the proximal-distal axis due to reduced leaf length elongation, which resulted in a higher blade width/length ratio and altered leaf shape, uncovering novel

SUBMITTER: Meng Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6305195 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature