Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Growth Regulation

Plant growth arises from tightly coordinated cellular activities, governed by a network of genetic, hormonal and epigenetic controls. Central to this regulation are phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin and gibberellin, which interact with specific receptors and downstream signalling pathways to modulate cell division, expansion and differentiation. Transcription factors interpret these hormonal cues to activate or repress target genes, while microRNAs fine-tune gene expression post-transcriptionally. Epigenetic modifiers, including histone deacetylases and chromatin remodelling complexes, further sculpt the transcriptional landscape by altering chromatin accessibility. Collectively, these molecular circuits determine organ size, shape and function, enabling plants to adapt developmentally to environmental and nutritional inputs. Advances in genomics, proteomics and in vivo imaging have begun to unravel the dynamic interplay of these components, revealing multilayered regulatory modules with potential for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have revealed a miR159-mediated regulatory module that orchestrates petal size through precise control of cytokinin catabolism. A transcriptional repressor forms a complex with a histone deacetylase and a co-repressor to modulate expression of the miR159 precursor, leading to targeted regulation of cytokinin oxidase transcripts. By fine-tuning the timing of cytokinin clearance, this module establishes the duration of the cell division phase and thus the final organ size, offering a mechanistic blueprint for manipulating lateral organ growth.

Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Growth Regulation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular mechanisms of plant growth regulation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

MicroRNA (miRNA): Small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by guiding the cleavage or translational repression of target messenger RNAs.

Transcription factor: Protein that binds specific DNA sequences to control the transcription of genetic information.

Cytokinin: A class of phytohormones that promote cell division and influence organ development.

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX): Enzyme that degrades cytokinin, modulating hormone levels and growth processes.

Chromatin accessibility: The extent to which DNA is exposed and available for binding by regulatory proteins, influencing gene transcription.

References

1. Petal size is controlled by the MYB73/TPL/HDA19-miR159-CKX6 module regulating cytokinin catabolism in Rosa hybrida. Nature Communications (2023).
2. OsGRF6‐OsYUCCA1/OsWRKY82 Signaling Cascade Upgrade Grain Yield and Bacterial Blight Resistance in Rice. Advanced Science (2024).
3. Knockout of miR396 genes increases seed size and yield in soybean. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology (2024).
4. Spatiotemporal miRNA and transcriptomic network dynamically regulate the developmental and senescence processes of poplar leaves. Horticulture Research (2023).