Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Plant Carbon Capture CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200032 China
2. University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
3. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture Zhejiang A&F University Hangzhou 311300 China
Abstract
SUMMARYThe lenticel is a channel‐like structure that facilitates oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor exchange on secondary growth tissue, such as a tree stem. Although the structure of lenticel has been described, there is limited understanding regarding the impact of this secondary structure on secondary growth as well as the cellular and metabolic processes underlying its formation. The study reveals the essential role of the lenticel in the process of tree secondary growth and the cellular and metabolic processes that take place during its formation. Under the stomata, lenticel development occurs when cells divide and differentiate into a structure of disconnected cells with air spaces between them. During lenticel formation, specific metabolic pathways and wax biosynthesis are activated. The SERK (somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase) gene controls lenticel density, and serk1serk3serk5 triple mutants enhance lenticel initiation. The findings shed light on the cellular and metabolic processes involved in lenticel formation, laying the groundwork for further mechanistic elucidation of their development, function, and genetic regulation in trees.
Funder
Key Programme
Key Research Program of Frontier Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences