title: Whole organ, venation and epidermal cell morphological variations are correlated in the leaves of Arabidopsis mutants.
abstract: Despite the large number of genes known to affect leaf shape or size, we still have a relatively poor understanding of how leaf morphology is established. For example, little is known about how cell division and cell expansion are controlled and coordinated within a growing leaf to eventually develop into a laminar organ of a definite size. To obtain a global perspective of the cellular basis of variations in leaf morphology at the organ, tissue and cell levels, we studied a collection of 111 non-allelic mutants with abnormally shaped and/or sized leaves, which broadly represent the mutational variations in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf morphology not associated with lethality. We used image-processing techniques on these mutants to quantify morphological parameters running the gamut from the palisade mesophyll and epidermal cells to the venation, whole leaf and rosette levels. We found positive correlations between epidermal cell size and leaf area, which is consistent with long-standing Avery's hypothesis that the epidermis drives leaf growth. In addition, venation parameters were positively correlated with leaf area, suggesting that leaf growth and vein patterning share some genetic controls. Positional cloning of the genes affected by the studied mutations will eventually establish functional links between genotypes, molecular functions, cellular parameters and leaf phenotypes.
authors: Instituto de Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación Operativa, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Elche, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors: José Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Pérez-Pérez
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Rubio-Díaz
authors: Stijn
authors: S
authors: Dhondt
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Hernández-Romero
authors: Joaquín
authors: J
authors: Sánchez-Soriano
authors: Gerrit T S
authors: GT
authors: Beemster
authors: María Rosa
authors: MR
authors: Ponce
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Micol
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D058503:Mesophyll Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000166:cytology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development