Ethylene is an endogenous stimulator of cell division in the cambial meristem of Populus.
The plant hormone ethylene is an important signal in plant growth responses to environmental cues. In vegetative growth, ethylene is generally considered as a regulator of cell expansion, but a role in the control of meristem growth has also been suggested based on pharmacological experiments and ethylene-overproducing mutants. In this study, we used transgenic ethylene-insensitive and ethylene-overproducing hybrid aspen (Populus tremula x tremuloides) in combination with experiments using an ethylene perception inhibitor [1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)] to demonstrate that endogenous ethylene produced in response to leaning stimulates cell division in the cambial meristem. This ethylene-controlled growth gives rise to the eccentricity of Populus stems that is formed in association with tension wood.
Love
Jonathan
J
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-90183 Umeå, Sweden.
Björklund
Simon
S
Vahala
Jorma
J
Hertzberg
Magnus
M
Kangasjärvi
Jaakko
J
Sundberg
Björn
B
D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics*; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018519:Meristem / Q000166:cytology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D032107:Populus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development
D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005030:Ethylenes; C036216:ethylene; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene