WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX4 acts as a key regulator in early leaf development in rice.

摘要: Rice (Oryza sativa) has long and narrow leaves with parallel veins, similar to other grasses. Relative Arabidopsis thaliana which oval-shaped leaves, our understanding of the mechanism leaf development is insufficient in In this study, we show that OsWOX4, a member WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX gene family, plays important roles early rice. Inducible downregulation OsWOX4 resulted severe defects development, such as an arrest vascular differentiation, partial defect cell proliferation required for midrib formation, failure maintain cellular activity general parenchyma cells. situ analysis showed knockdown reduced expression two LONELY GUY genes, function synthesis active cytokinin, developing bundles. Consistent this, cytokinin levels were downregulated by knockdown. Transcriptome further regulates multiple including those responsible cycle progression hormone action, consistent effects on phenotypes. Collectively, these results suggest acts key regulator at stage development. Our previous work revealed involved maintenance shoot apical meristem rice, whereas AtWOX4 specifically associated stem cells Arabidopsis. Thus, orthologous genes seems be diversified between rice