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Bioscience Reports Oct 2020Plants integrate a variety of biotic and abiotic factors for optimal growth in their given environment. While some of these responses are local, others occur distally.... (Review)
Review
Plants integrate a variety of biotic and abiotic factors for optimal growth in their given environment. While some of these responses are local, others occur distally. Hence, communication of signals perceived in one organ to a second, distal part of the plant and the coordinated developmental response require an intricate signaling system. To do so, plants developed a bipartite vascular system that mediates the uptake of water, minerals, and nutrients from the soil; transports high-energy compounds and building blocks; and traffics essential developmental and stress signals. One component of the plant vasculature is the phloem. The development of highly sensitive mass spectrometry and molecular methods in the last decades has enabled us to explore the full complexity of the phloem content. As a result, our view of the phloem has evolved from a simple transport path of photoassimilates to a major highway for pathogens, hormones and developmental signals. Understanding phloem transport is essential to comprehend the coordination of environmental inputs with plant development and, thus, ensure food security. This review discusses recent developments in its role in long-distance signaling and highlights the role of some of the signaling molecules. What emerges is an image of signaling paths that do not just involve single molecules but rather, quite frequently an interplay of several distinct molecular classes, many of which appear to be transported and acting in concert.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Phloem; Plant Development; Plants; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 32955092
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20193329 -
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Nov 2015Pollen development is a critical step in plant development that is needed for successful breeding and seed formation. Manipulation of male fertility has proved a useful... (Review)
Review
Pollen development is a critical step in plant development that is needed for successful breeding and seed formation. Manipulation of male fertility has proved a useful trait for hybrid breeding and increased crop yield. However, although there is a good understanding developing of the molecular mechanisms of anther and pollen anther development in model species, such as Arabidopsis and rice, little is known about the equivalent processes in important crops. Nevertheless the onset of increased genomic information and genetic tools is facilitating translation of information from the models to crops, such as barley and wheat; this will enable increased understanding and manipulation of these pathways for agricultural improvement.
Topics: Biotechnology; Plant Development; Pollen; Synteny
PubMed: 26310290
DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12425 -
Current Opinion in Plant Biology Oct 2021Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional plant metabolites working not only as allelochemicals in the rhizosphere, but also as a novel class of hormones regulating... (Review)
Review
Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional plant metabolites working not only as allelochemicals in the rhizosphere, but also as a novel class of hormones regulating growth and development in planta. To date, more than 30 SLs have been characterized, but the reason why plants produce structurally diverse SLs and the details of their biosynthetic pathway remain elusive. Recent studies using transcriptomics and reverse genetic techniques have paved the way to clarify the entire biosynthetic pathway of structurally diverse SLs. In this review, we discuss how various SLs are synthesized and what SL structural diversity means for plant growth and development.
Topics: Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; Lactones; Plant Development; Plant Growth Regulators
PubMed: 34198192
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102072 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2021In recent years, much progress has been made in elucidating the functional roles of plant glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins (GR-RBPs) during development and stress... (Review)
Review
In recent years, much progress has been made in elucidating the functional roles of plant glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins (GR-RBPs) during development and stress responses. Canonical GR-RBPs contain an RNA recognition motif (RRM) or a cold-shock domain (CSD) at the N-terminus and a glycine-rich domain at the C-terminus, which have been associated with several different RNA processes, such as alternative splicing, mRNA export and RNA editing. However, many aspects of GR-RBP function, the targeting of their RNAs, interacting proteins and the consequences of the RNA target process are not well understood. Here, we discuss recent findings in the field, newly defined roles for GR-RBPs and the actions of GR-RBPs on target RNA metabolism.
Topics: Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Germination; Phylogeny; Plant Development; Plant Proteins; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA-Binding Proteins; Seeds; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 34072567
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115849 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2022The plant hormone auxin acts as a signaling molecule to regulate numerous developmental processes throughout all stages of plant growth. Understanding how auxin... (Review)
Review
The plant hormone auxin acts as a signaling molecule to regulate numerous developmental processes throughout all stages of plant growth. Understanding how auxin regulates various physiological and developmental processes has been a hot topic and an intriguing field. Recent studies have unveiled more molecular details into how diverse auxin responses function in every aspect of plant growth and development. In this review, we systematically summarized and classified the molecular mechanisms of diverse auxin responses, and comprehensively elaborated the characteristics and multilevel regulation mechanisms of the canonical transcriptional auxin response. On this basis, we described the characteristics and differences between different auxin responses. We also presented some auxin response genes that have been genetically modified in plant species and how their changes impact various traits of interest. Finally, we summarized some important aspects and unsolved questions of auxin responses that need to be focused on or addressed in future research. This review will help to gain an overall understanding of and some insights into the diverse molecular mechanisms of auxin responses in plant growth and development that are instrumental in harnessing genetic resources in molecular breeding of extant plant species.
Topics: Indoleacetic Acids; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Development; Plants; Signal Transduction; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
PubMed: 36293351
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012495 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2018There has been many recent studies on the use of microbial antagonists to control diseases incited by soilborne and airborne plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, in an... (Review)
Review
There has been many recent studies on the use of microbial antagonists to control diseases incited by soilborne and airborne plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, in an attempt to replace existing methods of chemical control and avoid extensive use of fungicides, which often lead to resistance in plant pathogens. In agriculture, plant growth-promoting and biocontrol microorganisms have emerged as safe alternatives to chemical pesticides. spp. and their metabolites may have great potential as excellent agents for controlling various fungal and bacterial phytopathogens. Streptomycetes belong to the rhizosoil microbial communities and are efficient colonizers of plant tissues, from roots to the aerial parts. They are active producers of antibiotics and volatile organic compounds, both in soil and , and this feature is helpful for identifying active antagonists of plant pathogens and can be used in several cropping systems as biocontrol agents. Additionally, their ability to promote plant growth has been demonstrated in a number of crops, thus inspiring the wide application of streptomycetes as biofertilizers to increase plant productivity. The present review highlights spp.-mediated functional traits, such as enhancement of plant growth and biocontrol of phytopathogens.
Topics: Biological Control Agents; Endophytes; Pest Control, Biological; Plant Development; Streptomyces
PubMed: 29565834
DOI: 10.3390/ijms19040952 -
Current Opinion in Plant Biology Feb 2022Heat stress (HS) caused by above-optimal temperatures adversely affects plants' growth and development and diminishes crop yields. In natural and agricultural... (Review)
Review
Heat stress (HS) caused by above-optimal temperatures adversely affects plants' growth and development and diminishes crop yields. In natural and agricultural environments, these stresses are often transient but recurrent and may progressively increase in severity over time. In addition to the inherent ability to cope with a single HS event, plants have evolved mechanisms that enhance their capacity to survive and reproduce under such conditions. This involves the establishment of a molecular 'thermomemory' after moderate HS that allows them to withstand a later - and possibly more extreme - HS event. Here, I summarize the current understanding of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying thermomemory across multiple cellular levels and discuss aspects that require further attention.
Topics: Heat-Shock Response; Hot Temperature; Plant Development; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 34861588
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102147 -
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology Aug 2019Light is a crucial environmental cue not only for photosynthetic energy production but also for plant growth and development. Plants employ sophisticated methods to... (Review)
Review
Light is a crucial environmental cue not only for photosynthetic energy production but also for plant growth and development. Plants employ sophisticated methods to detect and interpret information from incoming light. Five classes of photoreceptors have been discovered in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. These photoreceptors act either distinctly and/or redundantly in fine-tuning many aspects of plant life cycle. Unlike mobile animals, sessile plants have developed an enormous plasticity to adapt and survive in changing environment. By monitoring different information arising from ambient light, plants precisely regulate downstream signaling pathways to adapt accordingly. Given that changes in the light environment is typically synchronized with other environmental cues such as temperature, abiotic stresses, and seasonal changes, it is not surprising that light signaling pathways are interconnected with multiple pathways to regulate plant physiology and development. Indeed, recent advances in plant photobiology revealed a large network of co-regulation among different photoreceptor signaling pathways as well as other internal signaling pathways (e.g., hormone signaling). In addition, some photoreceptors are directly involved in perception of non-light stimuli (e.g., temperature). Therefore, understanding highly inter-connected signaling networks is essential to explore the photoreceptor functions in plants. Here, we summarize how plants co-ordinate multiple photoreceptors and their internal signaling pathways to regulate a myriad of downstream responses at molecular and physiological levels.
Topics: Photoreceptors, Plant; Plant Development; Plants; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 30946988
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.03.007 -
Developmental Biology Nov 2016Mediator is a multiprotein complex that regulates transcription at the level of RNA pol II assembly, as well as through regulation of chromatin architecture, RNA... (Review)
Review
Mediator is a multiprotein complex that regulates transcription at the level of RNA pol II assembly, as well as through regulation of chromatin architecture, RNA processing and recruitment of epigenetic marks. Though its modular structure is conserved in eukaryotes, its subunit composition has diverged during evolution and varies in response to environmental and tissue-specific inputs, suggesting different functions for each subunit and/or Mediator conformation. In animals, Mediator has been implicated in the control of differentiation and morphogenesis through modulation of numerous signaling pathways. In plants, studies have revealed roles for Mediator in regulation of cell division, cell fate and organogenesis, as well as developmental timing and hormone responses. We begin this review with an overview of biochemical mechanisms of yeast and animal Mediator that are likely to be conserved in all eukaryotes, as well as a brief discussion of the role of Mediator in animal development. We then present a comprehensive review of studies of the role of Mediator in plant development. Finally, we point to important questions for future research on the role of Mediator as a master coordinator of development.
Topics: Animals; Arabidopsis Proteins; Eukaryotic Cells; Forecasting; Fungal Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Humans; Mediator Complex; Organogenesis, Plant; Plant Development; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Proteins; RNA Polymerase II; Species Specificity
PubMed: 27287881
DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.06.009 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2019The spacing and distribution of lateral roots are critical determinants of plant root system architecture. In addition to providing anchorage, lateral roots explore the... (Review)
Review
The spacing and distribution of lateral roots are critical determinants of plant root system architecture. In addition to providing anchorage, lateral roots explore the soil to acquire water and nutrients. Over the past several decades, we have deepened our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing lateral root formation and development. In this review, we summarize these recent advances and provide an overview of how auxin and cytokinin coordinate the regulation of lateral root formation and development.
Topics: Cytokinins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Indoleacetic Acids; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Plant Development; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant Roots; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 30678102
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030486