Competing differentiation gradients coordinate fruit morphogenesis

Morphogenesis requires the coordination of cellular behaviors along developmental axes1. In plants, gradients of growth and differentiation are typically established along a single longitudinal primordium axis to control organ shaping2. Here we combine quantitative live-imaging at cellular resolution with genetics, chemical treatments, and modeling to understand the formation of Arabidopsis thaliana female reproductive organ (gynoecium). We show that, contrary to other aerial organs, gynoecium shape is determined by two competing differentiation gradients positioned along two orthogonal axes. An early mediolateral gradient, dependent on meristematic activity in the medial domain, controls the valve morphogenesis while simultaneously restricting an auxin-dependent, longitudinal gradient to the style. This gradient competition serves to finetune the common developmental program governing organ morphogenesis to ensure the specialized function of the gynoecium3,4.