Differential spatial distribution of miR165/6 determines variability in plant root anatomy [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

Giovanna Di Ruocco, Gaia Bertolotti, Elena Pacifici, Laura Polverari, Miltos Tsiantis, Sabrina Sabatini, Paolo Costantino, and Raffaele Dello Ioio

A clear example of interspecific variation is the number of root cortical layers in plants. The genetic mechanisms underlying this variability are poorly understood, partly because of the lack of a convenient model. Here, we demonstrate that Cardamine hirsuta, unlike Arabidopsis thaliana, has two cortical layers that are patterned during late embryogenesis. We show that a miR165/6-dependent distribution of the HOMEODOMAIN LEUCINE ZIPPER III (HD-ZIPIII) transcription factor PHABULOSA (PHB) controls this pattern. Our findings reveal that interspecies variation in miRNA distribution can determine differences in anatomy in plants.

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