TY - JOUR TI - Computational modeling of cambium activity provides a regulatory framework for simulating radial plant growth AU - Lebovka, Ivan AU - Hay Mele, Bruno AU - Liu, Xiaomin AU - Zakieva, Alexandra AU - Schlamp, Theresa AU - Gursanscky, Nial Rau AU - Merks, Roeland MH AU - Großeholz, Ruth AU - Greb, Thomas A2 - Wabnik, Krzysztof A2 - Weigel, Detlef A2 - Prusinkiewicz, Przemyslaw VL - 12 PY - 2023 DA - 2023/03/10 SP - e66627 C1 - eLife 2023;12:e66627 DO - 10.7554/eLife.66627 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.66627 AB - Precise organization of growing structures is a fundamental process in developmental biology. In plants, radial growth is mediated by the cambium, a stem cell niche continuously producing wood (xylem) and bast (phloem) in a strictly bidirectional manner. While this process contributes large parts to terrestrial biomass, cambium dynamics eludes direct experimental access due to obstacles in live-cell imaging. Here, we present a cell-based computational model visualizing cambium activity and integrating the function of central cambium regulators. Performing iterative comparisons of plant and model anatomies, we conclude that the receptor-like kinase PXY and its ligand CLE41 are part of a minimal framework sufficient for instructing tissue organization. By integrating tissue-specific cell wall stiffness values, we moreover probe the influence of physical constraints on tissue geometry. Our model highlights the role of intercellular communication within the cambium and shows that a limited number of factors are sufficient to create radial growth by bidirectional tissue production. KW - organ growth KW - computational biology KW - wood formation KW - stem cell regulation JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -