title: Xylem development - from the cradle to the grave.
abstract: The development and growth of plants, as well as their successful adaptation to a variety of environments, is highly dependent on the conduction of water, nutrients and other important molecules throughout the plant body. Xylem is a specialized vascular tissue that serves as a conduit of water and minerals and provides mechanical support for upright growth. Wood, also known as secondary xylem, constitutes the major part of mature woody stems and roots. In the past two decades, a number of key factors including hormones, signal transducers and (post)transcriptional regulators have been shown to control xylem formation. We outline the main mechanisms shown to be essential for xylem development in various plant species, with an emphasis on Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as several tree species where xylem has a long history of investigation. We also summarize the processes which have been shown to be instrumental during xylem maturation. This includes mechanisms of cell wall formation and cell death which collectively complete xylem cell fate.
authors: Department of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 25, Brno, CZ-62500, Czech Republic.
authors: Kamil
authors: K
authors: Růžička
authors: Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.
authors: Robertas
authors: R
authors: Ursache
authors: Department of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 25, Brno, CZ-62500, Czech Republic.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Hejátko
authors: Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.|Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland.
authors: Ykä
authors: Y
authors: Helariutta
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D052584:Xylem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: auxin; cell wall; cytokinin; pattern formation; root development; vascular development; wood; xylem