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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #307840
Title: Genetic and phenotypic analysis of shoot apical and floral meristem development

Author
item Monfared, Mona
item Fletcher, Jennifer

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2013
Publication Date: 1/20/2014
Citation: Monfared, M.M., Fletcher, J.C. 2014. Genetic and phenotypic analysis of shoot apical and floral meristem development. In: Riechmann, J.L., Wellman, F., editors. Flower development. New York, NY: Springer Publishing. p. 157-189.

Interpretive Summary: The continuous development of leaves, shoots and flower structures during plant life relies on reservoirs of stem cells in shoot apical and floral meristems that act as sources of new cells for organ formation. In this book chapter we provide detailed methods and approaches for the analysis of shoot apical meristem and floral meristem development. We describe protocols for performing confocal laser scanning microscopy of embryonic meristems, histological sectioning to visualize vegetative meristems, image software-based quantification of vegetative meristem size and shape, in situ hybridization to detect specific mRNAs in vegetative sections, scanning electron microscopy to resolve the arrangement and morphology of floral meristems and floral organ primordia, and floral organ counting. The use of these techniques provides both qualitative and quantitative data on meristem organization and function, which are crucial for normal plant growth and development.

Technical Abstract: The shoot apical and floral meristems (SAM and FM, respectively) of Arabidopsis thaliana contain reservoirs of self-renewing stem cells that function as sources of progenitor cells for organ formation during development. The primary SAM produces all of the aerial structures of the adult plant, whereas the FMs generate the four types of floral organs. Consequently, aberrant SAM and FM activity can profoundly affect vegetative and reproductive plant morphology. The embedded location and small size of Arabidopsis meristems make accessing these structures difficult, so specialized techniques have been developed to facilitate their analysis. Microscopic, histological, and molecular techniques provide both qualitative and quantitative data on meristem organization and function, which are crucial for the normal growth and development of the entire plant.