A molecular framework for proximal secondary vein branching in the Arabidopsis thaliana embryo

Abstract

O_LIThe establishment of a closed vascular network in foliar organs is achieved through the coordinated specification of newly recruited procambial cells, their proliferation and elongation. An important, yet poorly understood component of this process, is secondary vein branching; a mechanism employed in Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledons to extend vascular tissues throughout the organs surface by secondary vein formation. C_LIO_LITo investigate the underlying molecular mechanism in vein branching, we analyzed at a single-cell level the discontinuous vein network of cotyledon vascular pattern 2 (cvp2) cvp2-like 1 (cvl1). Utilizing live-cell imaging and genetic approaches we uncovered two distinct branching mechanisms during embryogenesis. C_LIO_LISimilar to wild type, distal veins in cvp2 cvl1 embryos emerged from the bifurcation of cell files contained in the midvein. However, the branching events giving rise to proximal veins are absent in this mutant. Restoration of proximal branching in cvp2 cvl1 cotyledons could be achieved by increasing OCTOPUS dosage as well as by silencing of RECEPTOR LIKE PROTEIN KINASE 2 (RPK2) expression. The RPK2-mediated restriction of proximal branching is auxin and CLE-independent. C_LIO_LIOur work defines a genetic network conferring plasticity to Arabidopsis embryos to adapt the spatial configuration of vascular tissues to organ growth. C_LI