Spatio-temporal leaf growth patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana and evidence for sugar control of the diel leaf growth cycle.
Leaf growth dynamics are driven by diel rhythms. The analysis of spatio-temporal leaf growth patterns in Arabidopsis thaliana wild type and mutants of interest is a promising approach to elucidate molecular mechanisms controlling growth. The diel availability of carbohydrates is thought to affect diel growth. A digital image sequence processing (DISP)-based noninvasive technique for visualizing and quantifying highly resolved spatio-temporal leaf growth was adapted for the model plant A. thaliana. Diel growth patterns were analysed for the wild type and for a mutant with altered diel carbohydrate metabolism. A. thaliana leaves showed highest relative growth rates (RGRs) at dawn and lowest RGRs at the beginning of the night. Along the lamina, a clear basipetal gradient of growth rate distribution was found, similar to that in many other dicotyledonous species. The starch-free 1 (stf1) mutant revealed changed temporal growth patterns with reduced nocturnal, and increased afternoon, growth activity. The established DISP technique is presented as a valuable tool to detect altered temporal growth patterns in A. thaliana mutants. Endogenous changes in the diel carbohydrate availability of the starch-free mutant clearly affected its diel growth rhythms.
Wiese
A
A
Institute for Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere III (ICG III) Phytosphere, Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Christ
M M
MM
Institute for Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere III (ICG III) Phytosphere, Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Virnich
O
O
Institute for Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere III (ICG III) Phytosphere, Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Schurr
U
U
Institute for Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere III (ICG III) Phytosphere, Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
Walter
A
A
Institute for Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere III (ICG III) Phytosphere, Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000254:growth & development*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D010507:Periodicity; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development*
D002241:Carbohydrates; D009005:Monosaccharides