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Nature Cell Biology 5, 855 (1 October 2003) | doi:10.1038/ncb1003-855

From shoot to root

Alison Schuldt

Plant stem cells are present in the meristem of shoots, roots and later flowers; and developmental patterning of these tissues requires a fine balance between stem cell maintenance and the initiation of cell differentiation within this population. In shoots, this is kept in check by interactions between the CLAVATA (CLV) signalling pathway, which promotes stem cell differentiation, and factors that maintain stem cell identity.