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Phyllotaxis: Leaf Growth Mechanisms and Mathematical Models

Understanding the biological mechanisms behind leaf growth through mathematical models, phyllotaxis patterns in plants, and the role of auxin hormones in shaping plant life cycles. Explore the intricate processes of leaf development and how auxin influences phyllotactic patterns. Learn about the key proteins and factors involved in successful leaf growth. Discover the fascinating world of plant phyllotaxis and hormonal regulation.

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Phyllotaxis: Leaf Growth Mechanisms and Mathematical Models

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  1. Phyllotaxis: biological mechanisms Seth Donoughe

  2. Phyllotaxis A few simple assumptions about leaf growth --> Mathematical models --> Patterns observed in plants

  3. “First available space” • Mitchison (1977) • Based on contact-circles and an expanding apex. • Diffusion of inhibitor • Transport of inhibitor • Depletion or competition for a compound

  4. “Largest available place” • Douady and Couder (1992) • Maximize light gathering • Never overlap

  5. “First available place” or “largest available space? • Diffusion of an inhibitor? Active transport? A more complicated mechanism?

  6. Plant hormones • There are several major classes • Influence virtually all aspects of plant life cycle • One important class: • Auxins

  7. Auxin • Creates top - bottom (apical - basal) polarity • Mediates phototropism • Induces vascular tissue growth • Produced in the shoot apical meristem and is transported downward • Influx and efflux carriers accomplish this.

  8. Auxin controls the production of leaf primordia at the shoot apical meristem, and is therefore likely involved in phyllotaxis

  9. PIN1 is an auxin efflux carrier

  10. PIN1 is an auxin efflux carrier

  11. A series of proteins is needed to direct successful leaf growth Involving at least an auxin-dependent transcription factor, a negative regulator of auxin response, and the proteins for auxin transport.

  12. PIN1 and a uniform distribution of auxin combine to create the phyllotactic pattern • Auxin begins primordium formation • PIN1 preferentially directs auxin towards the growing leaf. • The leaf becomes an “auxin-sink” • As a result there is a minimum distance to the next primordium • Positive feedback and lateral inhibition

  13. Contact-circles supported

  14. Photo credit and references • Reinhart, et al. (2003). Regulation of phyllotaxis by polar auxin transport. • Douady and Couder. (1991) • Mitchison. (1977) • http://www-bioc.rice.edu/~bartel/projects/iaa28forweb.gif • http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Auxin.jpg • http://images.the-scientist.com/content/images/articles/53126/69-1.jpg • http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/labs/meristem.jpg

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