508 / 2019-03-01 08:07:58

The Role of DOF transcription factors in Vascular Regeneration

vasular,plant regeneration,grafting,DOF,wounding

Growth and Development > Growth and Development

Plant vascular tissues transport nutrients, water and hormones critical for growth and development. Considering the importance of these processes, plants have efficient means to repair damage to vasculature such as during cutting and wounding. Repairing vasculature is also relevant during the process of plant grafting whereby two plants are cut and joined together. However, how damage is repaired and vasculature regenerated remains unknown. Recently, we identified several DOF transcription factors that are expressed in the vasculature and are rapidly upregulated during graft formation and wound healing. We found that these early activators required both auxin and damage to activate at the wound site. Furthermore, sugars appear to play a critical role during regeneration since exogenous sugars could affect the response of these early activators during cutting and wounding. We hypothesise that damage, such as wounding and cutting, inhibits long-distance transport allowing auxin and sugar to accumulate at the wound site. These early activators are then induced to initiate vascular regeneration and promote wound healing.