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A core mechanism for specifying root vascular pattern can replicate the anatomical variation seen in diverse plant species

Mellor, Nathan; Vaughan-Hirsch, John; Kümpers, Britta M.C.; Help-Rinta-Rahko, Hanna; Miyashima, Shunsuke; Pekka Mähönen, Ari; Campilho, Ana; King, John R.; Bishopp, Anthony

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Authors

John Vaughan-Hirsch

Britta M.C. Kümpers

Hanna Help-Rinta-Rahko

Shunsuke Miyashima

Ari Pekka Mähönen

Ana Campilho

JOHN KING JOHN.KING@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Theoretical Mechanics

ANTHONY BISHOPP Anthony.Bishopp@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Plant Development Biology



Abstract

Pattern formation is typically controlled through the interaction between molecular signals within a given tissue. During early embryonic development, roots of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have a radially symmetric pattern, but a heterogeneous input of the hormone auxin from the two cotyledons forces the vascular cylinder to develop a diarch pattern with two xylem poles. Molecular analyses and mathematical approaches have uncovered the regulatory circuit that propagates this initial auxin signal into a stable cellular pattern. The diarch pattern seen in Arabidopsis is relatively uncommon among flowering plants, with most species having between three and eight xylem poles. Here, we have used multiscale mathematical modelling to demonstrate that this regulatory module does not require a heterogeneous auxin input to specify the vascular pattern. Instead, the pattern can emerge dynamically, with its final form dependent upon spatial constraints and growth. The predictions of our simulations compare to experimental observations of xylem pole number across a range of species, as well as in transgenic systems in Arabidopsis in which we manipulate the size of the vascular cylinder. By considering the spatial constraints, our model is able to explain much of the diversity seen in different flowering plant species.

Citation

Mellor, N., Vaughan-Hirsch, J., Kümpers, B. M., Help-Rinta-Rahko, H., Miyashima, S., Pekka Mähönen, A., …Bishopp, A. (2019). A core mechanism for specifying root vascular pattern can replicate the anatomical variation seen in diverse plant species. Development, 146(6), Article dev172411. https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.172411

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 18, 2019
Online Publication Date Mar 15, 2019
Publication Date Mar 15, 2019
Deposit Date Feb 26, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 16, 2020
Journal Development
Print ISSN 0950-1991
Electronic ISSN 1477-9129
Publisher Company of Biologists
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 146
Issue 6
Article Number dev172411
DOI https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.172411
Keywords Multiscale modelling, Vascular pattern, Auxin, Cytokinin, Developmental biology, Root biology
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1586569
Publisher URL http://dev.biologists.org/content/146/6/dev172411
Additional Information Project: Anthony Bishopp New Investigator
Contract Date Feb 26, 2019

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