Mechanisms in Plant Development

Intended for undergraduate and graduate courses in plant development, this book explains how the cells of a plant acquire and maintain their specific fates. Plant development is a continuous process occurring throughout the life cycle, with similar regulatory mechanisms acting at different stages and in different parts of the plant. Rather than focussing on the life cycle, the book is structured around these underlying mechanisms, using case studies to provide students with a framework to understand the many factors, both environmental and endogenous, that combine to regulate development and generate the enormous diversity of plant forms.

• 
  
• New approach to the study of plant development and a refreshing look at this fast-moving area.
  
• Authors focus their discussion on the basic mechanisms which underpin plant development, tackling the fundamental question of how a single cell becomes a complex flowering plant from a cellular perspective.
  
• An up-to-date, modern text in plant development for advanced level undergraduates and postgraduates in plant science.
  
• Thought-provoking treatment of a difficult subject, the text will satisfy the needs of advanced level undergraduates and postgraduates in plant science.
  
• Experimental case studies throughout.
  
• The artwork from the book is available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/leyser

Preface, viii

Introduction, IX

Sources for Figures, xi

Chapter 1: An introduction to flowering plants, 1

Alternation of generations, 1

Gametophyte development, 1

Development of the sporophyte, 3

Further reading, 18

Chapter 2: Characteristics of plant development, 19

Plant cells, 19

Larger patterns, 24

Theoretical framework for the study of developmental mechanisms, 26

Conclusions, 27

Further reading, 27

Chapter 3: Cell-intrinsic information, 29

Lineage, 29

Case study 3.1: Laser ablation of cells in the Arabidopsis root tip, 34

Case study 3.2: Green–white–green periclinal chimeras, 36

Case study 3.3: Mutations affecting division patterns, 39

Relationship between age and position, 43

Case study 3.4: Mutations affecting the rate of leaf initiation in Arabidopsis, 44

Conclusions, 46

Further reading, 46

Chapter 4: Primary axis development, 48

Embryonic axes, 48

Case study 4.1: Longitudinal axis of the Fucus embryo, 49

Case study 4.2: Longitudinal axis of the Arabidopsis embryo, 54

Case study 4.3: Radial axis of the Arabidopsis embryo, 64

Conclusions, 71

Further reading, 71

Chapter 5: Axis development in the leaf and flower, 74

Leaves, 74

Case study 5.1: Adaxial–abaxial axis of the leaf, 75

Case study 5.2: Proximodistal axis of the leaf, 84

Case study 5.3: Determinate nature of leaf development, 87

Flowers, 91

Case study 5.4: Radial axis of the flower, 92

Case study 5.5: Adaxial–abaxial axis of the Antirrhinum flower, 100

Conclusions, 104

Further reading, 105

Chapter 6: Position relative to a particular cell, tissue or organ, 110

Case study 6.1: The pattern of trichomes on the Arabidopsis leaf, 111

Case study 6.2: The pattern of root hairs in Arabidopsis, 116

Case study 6.3: Phyllotaxy, 123

Case study 6.4: Coordination of leaf and vascular development, 131

Conclusions, 134

Further reading, 134

Chapter 7: Light, 138

Light perception, 138

Developmental responses to light, 143

Case study 7.1: Light-induced germination, 143

Case study 7.2: Seedling etiolation and photomorphogenesis, 146

Case study 7.3: Shade escape, 151

Case study 7.4: Phototropism, 154

Case study 7.5: Photoperiodic control of flowering, 156

Conclusions, 161

Further reading, 161

Chapter 8: Environmental information other than light, 165

Case study 8.1: Gravitropism, 165

Case study 8.2: Thigmomorphogenesis, 172

Case study 8.3: Effects of uneven nutrient supply on root development, 177

Case study 8.4: Vernalization, 180

Conclusions, 186

Further reading, 186

Chapter 9: The coordination of development, 190

Case study 9.1: Initiation and maintenance of the shoot apical meristem, 191

Case study 9.2: Transition from embryonic to post-embryonic development, 200

Case study 9.3: Phase transitions in post-germination development, 203

Case study 9.4: Shoot branching, 213

Conclusions, 219

Further reading, 220

Chapter 10: A comparison of plant and animal development, 224

Control of cell fate, 225

Development of pattern, 226

Consequences of autotrophy versus heterotrophy, 229

Conclusions, 230

Further reading, 230

Index, 233

'In this new book, Leyser and Day provide a comprehensive overview of plant developmental biology that presents a diversity of developmental strategies whilst carefully distilling the basic principles and mechanisms involved. Its strengths are its breadth, clarity and up to date discussion of developmental studies and concepts. ...Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling plant development has exploded in the last decade, and this book provides an outstanding and much needed review and synthesis. Whilst primarily directed at higher-level undergraduates, it should be accessible and informative to scientists at all levels. Though the field of plant development is rapidly advancing, this book's strength in highlighting fundamental developmental concepts and principles make it a must have for any student of developmental biology.' David Jackson, Cold Spring Harbor, BSDB Newsletter

"....worth a library or scientist's investment. It is easy to read, thorough and offers additional points of access to the scientific literature that a student will find useful. It would serve as an excellent supplementary text for a library collection, or as a refresher text for a graduate student in botany." E-Streams, Vol 6, No 1, January 2003

"In each instance the authors employ a number of specific 'case studies' that trace resesarch in the area from the basic anatomy and physiology to more recent molecular investigations. ...The text is clearly written and well referenced. It should be useful to students who are getting started in this dynamic field." Choice, Vol 40, No 8, April 2003

"... a very timely and authoritative documentation of modern plant developmental biology and highly recommend it for advanced graduate and postgraduate students and also scientists interested in this topic." Martin Huelskamp, Universitat Koln, BioEssays, April 2004

"This is a 'must-have' volume for any scientist with even a peripheral interest in plant development. Leyser and Day have provided a welcome addition for anyone looking for an up-to-date book for an upper-level undergraduate or graduate course in plant development." Clive Edwards, Ohio State University for the Quaterly Review of Biology, March-May 2003

Ottoline Leyser is a reader in plant developmental genetics at the University of York.

Stephen Day is a science writer, also in York.

Intended for undergraduate and graduate courses in plant development, this book explains how the cells of a plant acquire and maintain their specific fates. Plant development is a continuous process occurring throughout the life cycle, with similar regulatory mechanisms acting at different stages and in different parts of the plant. Rather than focussing on the life cycle, the book is structured around these underlying mechanisms, using case studies to provide students with a framework to understand the many factors, both environmental and endogenous, that combine to regulate development and generate the enormous diversity of plant forms.