Vegetative phase change explained

Vegetative phase change is the juvenile-to-adult transition in plants.^[1] This transition is distinct from the reproductive transition and is most prolonged and pronounced in woody species. Manipulating phase change may be an important avenue for plant improvement.^[2]

In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, vegetative phase change is relatively subtle: leaves become more curled, with an increased number of abaxial trichomes, and increased serration.^[3] Studies in A. thaliana and maize identified microRNA MIR156 genes as master regulators of phase change, through their regulation of SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER-BINDING-LIKE (SBP/SPL) transcription factors.^{[4] [5]} This gene regulatory circuit appears to be conserved (with variations) in all land plants, including mosses.^[1]

See also

• Plant morphology
• Heteroblasty

Notes and References

1. Poethig . R. S. . The past, present, and future of vegetative phase change . 10.1104/pp.110.161620 . Plant Physiology . 154 . 2 . 541–544 . 2010 . 20921181. 2949024 .
2. Chuck . G. S. . Tobias . C. . Sun . L. . Kraemer . F. . Li . C. . Dibble . D. . Arora . R. . Bragg . J. N. . Vogel . J. P. . Singh . S. . Simmons . B. A. . Pauly . M. . Hake . S. . Overexpression of the maize Corngrass1 microRNA prevents flowering, improves digestibility, and increases starch content of switchgrass . 10.1073/pnas.1113971108 . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . 108 . 42 . 17550–17555 . 2011 . 21987797. 3198312. 2011PNAS..10817550C . free .
3. Telfer . A. . Bollman . K. M. . Poethig . R. S. . Phase change and the regulation of trichome distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana . Development . 124 . 3 . 645–654 . 1997 . 10.1242/dev.124.3.645 . 9043079.
4. Wu . G. . Poethig . R. S. . Temporal regulation of shoot development in Arabidopsis thaliana by miR156 and its target SPL3 . 10.1242/dev.02521 . Development . 133 . 18 . 3539–3547 . 2006 . 16914499. 1610107 .
5. Chuck . G. . Cigan . A. M. . Saeteurn . K. . Hake . S. . The heterochronic maize mutant Corngrass1 results from overexpression of a tandem microRNA . 10.1038/ng2001 . Nature Genetics . 39 . 4 . 544–549 . 2007 . 17369828. 20014922 .