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Published on: March 6, 2019
miRNA control of vegetative phase change in trees
Jia-Wei Wang1, Mee Yeon Park, Ling-Jian Wang
1Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany.
Plos Genetics
|March 9, 2011
Summary
MicroRNA 156 (miR156) regulates the transition from juvenile to adult phases in plants. This study shows miR156 is a conserved regulator in both annual plants and trees, impacting plant development.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Plants transition from juvenile to adult vegetative phases before reproduction, with timing varying across species.
- The juvenile-to-adult transition involves morphological changes, especially pronounced in perennial woody plants.
- The underlying mechanisms controlling vegetative phase change in annual versus perennial plants remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conserved mechanisms regulating vegetative phase change in diverse plant species.
- To determine if microRNAs miR156 and miR172 control phase change in woody plants, similar to annuals.
- To explore the role of miR156 in regulating the duration of the juvenile phase in trees.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of miR156 and miR172 expression patterns in various annual and woody plant species.
- Genetic manipulation of miR156 levels in transgenic Populus x canadensis (Poplar).
- Assessment of morphological and developmental changes in response to altered microRNA expression.
Main Results:
- miR156 and miR172 expression patterns during vegetative phase change were conserved across annuals (Arabidopsis, maize) and diverse woody species (Acacia, Eucalyptus, Hedera, Quercus, Populus).
- Overexpression of miR156 in poplar significantly prolonged the juvenile phase and reduced miR172 levels.
- miR156 directly or indirectly influences the expression of miR156-targeted SPL genes and miR172.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNA 156 (miR156) is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of vegetative phase change in both herbaceous annual plants and perennial trees.
- The miR156/miR172 regulatory module plays a fundamental role in controlling the timing of developmental transitions in plants.
- Understanding these conserved mechanisms can inform strategies for manipulating plant development and crop improvement.
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