Genetic regulation of gravitropism in higher plants

• Published in: International Review of Cytology Vol. 206; pp. 135 - 154
• Main Authors: Tasaka, Masao, Kato, Takehide, Fukaki, Hidehiro
• Format: Book Chapter Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Science & Technology 2001
• Subjects: Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - physiology; Auxin signal; Biochemistry; Biophysics; Cell elongation; Cellular biology; Endodermis; Genes, Plant; Gravitropic mutants; Gravitropism; Gravitropism - genetics; Gravitropism - physiology; Gravity sensing; Indoleacetic Acids - genetics; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; Models, Biological; Phenotype; Plant Structures - anatomy & histology; Plant Structures - physiology; Signal Transduction; Auxin signal; Arabidopsis; Cell elongation; Gravitropism; Gravity sensing; Gravitropic mutants; Endodermis
• ISBN: 0123646103; 9780123646101
• ISSN: 0074-7696; 2163-5854
• DOI: 10.1016/S0074-7696(01)06021-1

Gravitropism is a classical subject in plant physiology. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate gravitropism are unknown. Recently, many gravitropic mutants have been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana and several genes for gravitropism have been cloned and characterized. These studies have shown that (1) the endodermis is essential for shoot gravitropism and (2) an auxin transport system and signaling pathway are necessary for gravitropism. Recent studies in Arabidopsis are reviewed and genetic regulation of gravitropism in this organism is discussed.