title: Plant grafting: how genetic exchange promotes vascular reconnection.
abstract: Grafting has been widely used to improve horticultural traits. It has also served increasingly as a tool to investigate the long-distance transport of molecules that is an essential part for key biological processes. Many studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms of graft-induced phenotypic variation in anatomy, morphology and production. Here, we review the phenomena and their underlying mechanisms by which macromolecules, including RNA, protein, and even DNA, are transported between scions and rootstocks via vascular tissues. We further propose a conceptual framework that characterizes and quantifies the driving mechanisms of scion-rootstock interactions toward vascular reconnection and regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Center for Computational Biology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Computational Biology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors.forename: Libo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Center for Computational Biology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.|Center for Statistical Genetics, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Rongling
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D058526:Plant Vascular Bundle / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018749:RNA, Plant
keywords: 
  DNA
  ; 
  mRNA
  ; 
  sRNA
  ; phenotypic variation; plant grafting; vascular reconnection