Computational modelling of cambium activity provides a regulatory framework for simulating radial plant growth

Abstract
Data availability
Article and author information
Metrics

Abstract

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 is sufficient to create radial growth by bidirectional tissue production.

Data availability

Code files for presented models are deposited at https://github.com/thomasgreb/Lebovka-et-al_cambium-models.

Article and author information

Author details

Ivan Lebovka

Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Bruno Hay Mele

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-5579-183X
Xiaomin Liu

Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Alexandra Zakieva

Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Theresa Schlamp

Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Nial Rau Gursanscky

Plant Science, Gregor Mendel Institute, Vienna, Austria

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Roeland MH Merks

Mathematical Institute and Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-6152-687X
Ruth Großeholz

BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

For correspondence
ruth.grosseholz@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Thomas Greb

Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

For correspondence
thomas.greb@cos.uni-heidelberg.de

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-6176-646X

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR2104/4-1)

Thomas Greb

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR2104/5-2)

Thomas Greb

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR2104/6)

Thomas Greb

Joachim Herz Stiftung

Ruth Großeholz

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (CRC 1101)

Ruth Großeholz

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Copyright

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.