Genetic Regulation of Leaf Morphology in Crop Plants

Leaf morphology in crop species is governed by intricate genetic networks that regulate cell division, differentiation and tissue patterning to optimise photosynthetic efficiency and stress resilience. Core mechanisms involve the spatial arrangement of vascular bundles and specialised cells such as bulliform and sclerenchyma cells, which together determine leaf curvature, rolling and width. Phytohormones, notably auxins and gibberellins, integrate developmental signals through transcription factors and microRNA‐regulated homeodomain proteins, modulating adaxial–abaxial polarity and cell proliferation. Advances in gene‐editing and high‐throughput phenotyping have unraveled key loci that tailor leaf architecture for specific environments, facilitating targeted breeding for yield stability and water-use efficiency. Integrative studies now link variation in leaf rolling response to drought with underlying anatomical traits and hormone transport, underscoring the global significance of fine-tuning leaf form in the face of climate change.

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Genetic Regulation of Leaf Morphology in Crop Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic regulation of leaf morphology in crop plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bulliform cells: Large, specialised epidermal cells on the leaf upper surface that regulate rolling by altering turgor pressure.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS): A statistical approach linking genetic variants across populations to phenotypic traits, such as leaf size.

CRISPR/Cas9: A genome-editing tool that introduces precise mutations to study or modify gene function.

Adaxial and abaxial: The upper (adaxial) and lower (abaxial) leaf surfaces, whose polarity influences leaf curvature and symmetry.

dNTP pool: The cellular supply of deoxyribonucleotides required for DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression.

References

1. Rice Curled Its Leaves Either Adaxially or Abaxially to Combat Drought Stress. Rice Science (2023).
2. Identification of a Rice Leaf Width Gene Narrow Leaf 22 (NAL22) through Genome-Wide Association Study and Gene Editing Technology. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
3. Narrow and Stripe Leaf 2 Regulates Leaf Width by Modulating Cell Cycle Progression in Rice. Rice (2023).
4. Current Advances in Molecular Basis and Mechanisms Regulating Leaf Morphology in Rice. Frontiers in Plant Science (2018).