![]() ![]() These systems show emergent properties which cannot be predicted by simply considering the individual components that make up cells and tissues (for a discussion on this issue see ). As we will see, in order to grow the plant has to modify the cell wall structure and synthesis.Īs all living beings, plants are complex systems where molecules assemble into cells, and cells into tissues and organs. The cells are prevented from bursting by the presence of a robust extracellular matrix or cell wall, which counteracts the pressure inside. Every cell is under a high internal pressure (typically an estimated 5–10 bar in growing meristematic cells, 15–20 bar in some differentiated cells, i.e. Taking flower initiation as a case study, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of plant morphogenesis, hereby underlining the importance of biophysical and computational approaches.įrom a more cellular perspective, plant growth and morphogenesis depend on two essential processes: the control of turgor pressure and cell wall synthesis. Hereby we will mainly focus on the reproductive phase, during which an inflorescence forms and the meristem generates the flowers. In this review, we will discuss the shoot apical meristem (SAM) which generates all the aerial parts of the plant. All the rest of the plant will be elaborated from small groups of undifferentiated stem cells, called meristems, which continuously initiate new tissues and/or new organs. During embryogenesis, only a very rudimentary plant is formed, often composed of just a small embryonic root, an embryonic stem (hypocotyl) and a few leaves. As a result, they have evolved an extremely flexible mode of development. First of all, as plants are sessile, they have to adapt continuously their shape and architecture to their environment. Plant development can be distinguished from animal development by a number of specific features. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Systems morphodynamics: understanding the development of tissue hardware’. More specifically, this involves two interdependent processes: the activation of wall remodelling enzymes and changes in microtubule dynamics. A scenario emerges where molecular networks impact on both cell wall anisotropy and synthesis, thus causing the rapid outgrowth of organs at specific locations. This has involved multidisciplinary approaches including quantitative imaging, molecular genetics, computational biology and biophysics. We will discuss here a number of recent studies aimed at analysing the link between cell wall structure and molecular regulation. A major downstream target of this network is the extracellular matrix or cell wall, which is a local determinant for both growth rates and growth directions. We will discuss here flower formation at the SAM, which involves a complex network of regulatory genes and signalling molecules. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is a small population of stem cells that continuously generates organs and tissues. ![]()
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