Article
Dec 4, 2020
Development and Cell Cycle Activity of the Root Apical Meristem in the Fern Ceratopteris richardii
MDPI
Authors:
Alejandro Aragón Raygoza, Alejandra Vasco, Ikram Blilou, Luis Herrera-Estrella, Alfredo Cruz-Ramírez
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Abstract
Ferns are a representative clade in plant evolution although underestimated in the genomic era. Ceratopteris richardii is an emergent model for developmental processes in ferns, yet a complete scheme of the different growth stages is necessary. Here, we present a developmental analysis, at the tissue and cellular levels, of the first shoot-borne root of Ceratopteris. We followed early stages and emergence of the root meristem in sporelings. While assessing root growth, the first shoot-borne root ceases its elongation between the emergence of the fifth and sixth roots, suggesting Ceratopteris roots follow a determinate developmental program. We report cell division frequencies in the stem cell niche after detecting labeled nuclei in the root apical cell (RAC) and derivatives after 8 h of exposure. These results demonstrate the RAC has a continuous mitotic activity during root development. Detection of cell cycle activity in the RAC at early times suggests this cell acts as a non-quiescent organizing center. Overall, our results provide a framework to study root function and development in ferns and to better understand the evolutionary history of this organ.
Bibliography
Aragón-Raygoza A, Vasco A, Blilou I, Herrera-Estrella L, Cruz-Ramírez A. Development and Cell Cycle Activity of the Root Apical Meristem in the Fern Ceratopteris richardii. Genes. 2020; 11(12):1455. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11121455