Plant polarity articles from across Nature Portfolio

Plant polarity refers to the asymmetric distribution of cellular components along a particular axis within a cell, and is essential for processes such as intercellular communication, cell division, cell morphogenesis and differentiation. Polarised cells are involved in the patterning of plant tissues and organs, and therefore contribute to the overall shape of the plant.

Latest Research and Reviews

News and Comment

  • News & Views |

    Pollen apertures are the manifestation of distinct plasma membrane domains on the pollen surface. A new study discovered two proteins in rice that are localized specifically to the aperture domains in the membrane of developing pollen and are involved in aperture formation.

    • Yuan Zhou
    •  & Anna A. Dobritsa
    Nature Plants 6, 334-335
  • Research Highlights |

    Mechanical tension is shown to contribute to the establishment of the cell polarity axis in plant epidermal stem cells, which is important for regulating asymmetric cell division.

    • Paulina Strzyz
  • News & Views |

    Roots must sort the good from the bad and distinguish the inside from the outside. In endodermal cells, a ring-like apoplastic diffusion barrier called the Casparian strip is established, splitting the cells down the middle into inner and outer lateral halves. Its integrity and polarity depends on a novel protein kinase called SCHENGEN1.

    • Silvia Melina Velasquez
    •  & Jürgen Kleine-Vehn
    Nature Plants 2, 16118