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Spatio‐temporal leaf growth patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana and evidence for sugar control of the diel leaf growth cycle
Author(s) -
Wiese A.,
Christ M. M.,
Virnich O.,
Schurr U.,
Walter A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02053.x
Subject(s) - diel vertical migration , biology , arabidopsis thaliana , botany , mutant , ecology , biochemistry , gene
Summary• Leaf growth dynamics are driven by diel rhythms. The analysis of spatio‐temporal leaf growth patterns in Arabidopsis thaliana wild type and mutants of interest is a promising approach to elucidate molecular mechanisms controlling growth. The diel availability of carbohydrates is thought to affect diel growth. • A digital image sequence processing (DISP)‐based noninvasive technique for visualizing and quantifying highly resolved spatio‐temporal leaf growth was adapted for the model plant A. thaliana . Diel growth patterns were analysed for the wild type and for a mutant with altered diel carbohydrate metabolism. • A. thaliana leaves showed highest relative growth rates (RGRs) at dawn and lowest RGRs at the beginning of the night. Along the lamina, a clear basipetal gradient of growth rate distribution was found, similar to that in many other dicotyledonous species. The starch‐free 1 ( stf1 ) mutant revealed changed temporal growth patterns with reduced nocturnal, and increased afternoon, growth activity. • The established DISP technique is presented as a valuable tool to detect altered temporal growth patterns in A. thaliana mutants. Endogenous changes in the diel carbohydrate availability of the starch‐free mutant clearly affected its diel growth rhythms.