title: Classification and quantification of leaf curvature.
abstract: Various mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana deficient in polarity, cell division, and auxin response are characterized by certain types of leaf curvature. However, comparison of curvature for clarification of gene function can be difficult without a quantitative measurement of curvature. Here, a novel method for classification and quantification of leaf curvature is reported. Twenty-two mutant alleles from Arabidopsis mutants and transgenic lines deficient in leaf flatness were selected. The mutants were classified according to the direction, axis, position, and extent of leaf curvature. Based on a global measure of whole leaves and a local measure of four regions in the leaves, the curvature index (CI) was proposed to quantify the leaf curvature. The CI values accounted for the direction, axis, position, and extent of leaf curvature in all of the Arabidopsis mutants grown in growth chambers. Comparison of CI values between mutants reveals the spatial and temporal variations of leaf curvature, indicating the strength of the mutant alleles and the activities of the corresponding genes. Using the curvature indices, the extent of curvature in a complicated genetic background becomes quantitative and comparable, thus providing a useful tool for defining the genetic components of leaf development and to breed new varieties with leaf curvature desirable for the efficient capture of sunlight for photosynthesis and high yields.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fenglin Road 300, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhongyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Yanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
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