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Leaf asymmetry as a developmental constraint imposed by auxin-dependent phyllotactic patterning.

Daniel H Chitwood1, Lauren R Headland, Aashish Ranjan

  • 1Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.

The Plant Cell
|June 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Leaf development may not be perfectly symmetrical. This study reveals hidden auxin distribution asymmetries in leaf primordia, influencing leaf shape and potentially explaining left-right differences in mature leaves.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant developmental biology
  • Molecular and cellular biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Leaf development is generally considered bilaterally symmetric.
  • Existing models do not account for differing auxin environments of leaf primordia sides.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate auxin distribution asymmetries in leaf primordia.
  • Determine the impact of these asymmetries on leaf morphology.
  • Explore the relationship between phyllotaxis and leaf asymmetry.

Main Methods:

  • Revisiting an existing auxin transport model.
  • Using a DR5 reporter to visualize auxin response.
  • Empirical observation of leaf primordia morphology in tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana.
  • Applying auxin to leaf primordia.

Main Results:

  • Identified previously overlooked auxin distribution asymmetries in leaf primordia.
  • Demonstrated that phyllotactic spiral direction dictates asymmetry.
  • Observed morphological asymmetries in young and mature leaves.
  • Confirmed that localized auxin application can induce asymmetry.

Conclusions:

  • Leaf development exhibits inherent asymmetries linked to auxin distribution and phyllotaxis.
  • These findings challenge the notion of perfect bilateral symmetry in leaf development.
  • Provides a framework for understanding a new developmental axis in plant morphology.