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Leaf development describes the coordinated morphogenesis process by which a leaf is formed, and grows to become a mature photosynthetic organ. It starts from the initiation of a primordium in the shoot meristem, and ends with the fully structured leaf, composed of several cell types such as trichomes, guard cells, epidermal and mesophyll layers, and vascular cells.
A chromosome-level genome assembly for the amphibious plant Rorippa aquatica uncovers its tetraploid origin and an involvement of ethylene in heterophylly upon submergence.
This study reveals a pathway in which the transformation of trifoliate leaves into pinnate-like pentafoliate leaves is regulated by the conserved regulators of floral development (MtUFO) and leaf development (MtKNOXI) in M. truncatula.
This study by Scacchi et al. shows that a mobile small-RNA-based Turing system dynamically organizes plant organ polarity. The afforded developmental flexibility accounts for diversity in organ shapes, from radialized or cup-shaped to the robust planar shape of a typical leaf.
This study uncovers the specialized function of previously elusive BCL7 subunits of SWI/SNF complexes in eukaryotes and reveals the mechanism whereby plants memorize the juvenile identity through SWI/SNF-mediated control of chromatin accessibility.
Resolving R-loops caused by transcription-replication conflicts (TRCs) is vital to genome stability in organisms. Here, the authors show that the chloroplast-localized primase ATH intensifies template strand competition and exacerbates the Head-On TRCs induced DNA damage.
The epidermal surface of leaves and flower petals often display cells with wavy geometries. Here the authors provide evidence that this pattern represents an energy-efficient mechanism to protect plants from deleterious surface fissures and toughen the plants’ protective surface.
The flat structure of a leaf blade enables it to function as a photosynthetic organ for efficient light capture. The leaf rim or the edge-most region of leaf margin directs the planar growth of both leaves and ligules in grasses.
Leaf development follows a common principle but is also flexibly tuned in different species in a spatiotemporal manner. A novel regulatory mechanism controlling leaflet formation has been identified in Medicago.
