These cells are an irregular shape which allows them to cover large areas as leaves expand and change shape without being damaged under the pressure. We have proposed a new theory to explain how the shape of plant puzzle or epidermal cells, the cells which cover the surface of plant organs, is vital for allowing growth. Understanding how cells cope with the physical stresses posed during growth is also key to developing an in depth understanding of the growth and development process. By understanding what controls their shape, our research will contribute longer term to improving crops and global food security. The tools, skills and knowledge that we have developed in model species will feed into our research to improve UK crops such as Brassicas and wheat that also form part of our GEN research programme. Plant organs including leaves, inflorescences, and fruit are our main source of food. We now understand that changes in gene expression between the upper and lower surface of the leaf can lead to differences in shape from a flat leaf through to a cup shaped trap structure. We have been able to demonstrate that a simple mechanism underlies the formation of both flat and cup shaped leaves, through research on the Carnivorous Bladderwort, Urticularia gibba, which makes cup shaped leaves as traps.
We have made some fantastic discoveries since the start of our strategic programme in 2017, providing new insights into this dynamic process.
Starting with the microscopic clusters of cells called organ primordia, how do these develop into sheets of tissue which go on to grow and fold, creating organs of varied shapes and sizes? Can we discover more of the molecular and cellular mechanisms which underly the diversification that we see in, for example, fruit or leaf shape? “We are interested in how the genes within plants control the mechanics of growth that lead to different plant shapes and forms. We sat down with Programme Manager Dr Teresa Penfield to find out what they’re working on and how different plant organs such as leaves, flowers and fruit form their many and varying shapes. Organ development lies at the heart of developmental genetics, the scientific focus of our research within Genes in the Environment (GEN) research programme.
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