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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Confocal Live Imaging of Shoot Apical Meristems from Different Plant Species
Published on: March 29, 2019
Control of cell fate during axillary meristem initiation
Xiuwei Cao1,2, Yuling Jiao3,4
1State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Center for Plant Gene Research (Beijing), Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Abstract:
Axillary meristems (AMs) are located in the leaf axil and can establish new growth axes. Whereas their neighboring cells are differentiated, the undifferentiated cells in the AM endow the AM with the same developmental potential as the shoot apical meristem. The AM is, therefore, an excellent system to study stem cell fate maintenance in plants. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of AM initiation. Recent findings have shown that AMs derive from a stem cell lineage that is maintained in the leaf axil. This review covers AM progenitor cell fate maintenance, reactivation, and meristem establishment. We also highlight recent work that links transcription factors, phytohormones, and epigenetic regulation to AM initiation.
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