Open AccessThe reduction in maize leaf growth under mild drought affects the transition between cell division and cell expansion and cannot be restored by elevated gibberellic acid levels
Author(s) -
Nelissen Hilde,
Sun XiaoHuan,
Rymen Bart,
Jikumaru Yusuke,
Kojima Mikko,
Takebayashi Yumiko,
Abbeloos Rafael,
Demuynck Kirin,
Storme Veronique,
Vuylsteke Marnik,
De Block Jolien,
Herman Dorota,
Coppens Frederik,
Maere Steven,
Kamiya Yuji,
Sakakibara Hitoshi,
Beemster Gerrit T.S.,
Inzé Dirk
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12801
Subject(s) - biology , gibberellic acid , cell division , reprogramming , cell growth , transcriptome , gibberellin , cell , transition (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , biochemistry , gene , gene expression , germination
Summary Growth is characterized by the interplay between cell division and cell expansion, two processes that occur separated along the growth zone at the maize leaf. To gain further insight into the transition between cell division and cell expansion, conditions were investigated in which the position of this transition zone was positively or negatively affected. High levels of gibberellic acid ( GA ) in plants overexpressing the GA biosynthesis gene GA 20‐ OXIDASE ( GA 20 OX ‐1 OE ) shifted the transition zone more distally, whereas mild drought, which is associated with lowered GA biosynthesis, resulted in a more basal positioning. However, the increased levels of GA in the GA 20 OX ‐1 OE line were insufficient to convey tolerance to the mild drought treatment, indicating that another mechanism in addition to lowered GA levels is restricting growth during drought. Transcriptome analysis with high spatial resolution indicated that mild drought specifically induces a reprogramming of transcriptional regulation in the division zone. ‘Leaf Growth Viewer’ was developed as an online searchable tool containing the high‐resolution data.