Plant stem cell articles from across Nature Portfolio

Examination of the cell fate gene-regulatory networks of the moss Physcomitrium patens reveals regulons that exhibit misregulation in mutants for the calpain DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 (DEK1) gene.

The authors show that gaseous Nitric Oxide (NO) promotes transit amplifying cell fate in the Arabidopsis shoot meristem. NO acts by modifying AGO4-WUSCHEL protein interactions in stem cells, directly linking NO signaling with DNA methylation.

Cell cycle inhibitor SIAMESE-RELATED1 is identified as a key factor determining the ratio of pavement cells over stomata in response to drought, by terminating the bipotency of stomatal lineage ground cells.

Molecular and cellular characterization of callus formed from the rice scutellum reveals involvement of an embryo-like developmental program, in contrast to callus formed from the vasculature, which is regulated by genes involved in root organogenesis.

Auxin is a key regulator in vascular cambium development. This study shows that gibberellins promote polar auxin transport along the root, which leads to broadening of high auxin signalling domain in cambium, and thus, to increased xylem formation.

The stem cell niche in plant shoots is maintained by carefully orchestrated feedback between a series of CLAVATA (CLV) receptors and their ligand CLV3, and the transcription factor WUSCHEL. A new clade of co-receptors, CLV3-insensitive receptor kinases (CIKs), provides an important missing link in CLV signalling.

Overexpressing a receptor–ligand pair specifically in their native tissue domains dramatically promotes wood formation and biomass production in trees.

The ERF115 transcriptional activator is a rate-limiting factor of quiescent centre cell division.

miR394 signals from the protoderm to maintain stem cell activity at the shoot apex.