Altered expression of SELF-PRUNING disrupts meristem homeostasis and facilitates delivery of signals to the meristem
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ABSTRACT: Meristem maintenance, achieved through the highly conserved CLAVATA-WUSCHEL (CLV-WUS) regulatory circuit, is fundamental in balancing stem cell proliferation with cellular differentiation. Disruptions to meristem homeostasis can alter meristem size, leading to enlarged organs. Cotton, the world’s most important fiber crop, shows inherent variation in fruit size. Leveraging meristem regulation could benefit cotton agriculture and increase yields of high-quality fibers. Using virus-based gene manipulation in cotton, we altered expression of genes functioning in the CLV-WUS circuit to perturb meristem regulation and increase fruit size. Targeted alteration of individual components of the CLV-WUS circuit only modestly fasciated flowers and fruits. Unexpectedly, controlled expression of meristem regulator SELF-PRUNING (SP) dramatically increased the impacts of altered CLV-WUS expression on flower and fruit fasciation. Meristem transcriptomics show SP and genes of the CLV-WUS circuit are expressed independently from each other, suggesting these gene products are not acting in the same path. Virus-induced silencing of GhSP facilitated delivery of other signals to the meristem to dramatically alter organ specification. SELF-PRUNING has a role in cotton meristem homeostasis, and changes in GhSP expression increased access of virus-based signals to the meristem.
ORGANISM(S): Gossypium hirsutum
PROVIDER: GSE206189 | GEO | 2023/03/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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