The many functions of ERECTA

The Arabidopsis thaliana accession Landsberg erecta contains an induced mutation in the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like Ser/Thr kinase gene ERECTA. Landsberg erecta is commonly used as a genetic background in mutant screens and in natural variation studies. Therefore, the erecta mutation is present in many loss-of-function mutants and recombinant inbred lines. Information on how the absence of functional ERECTA affects the interpretation of obtained phenotypic results is scattered. In this report we inventoried ERECTA functions and highlight ERECTA as a pleiotropic regulator of developmental and physiological processes, as well as a modulator of responses to environmental stimuli

The many functions of ERECTA

The Arabidopsis thaliana accession Landsberg erecta contains an induced mutation in the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like Ser/Thr kinase gene ERECTA. Landsberg erecta is commonly used as a genetic background in mutant screens and in natural variation studies. Therefore, the erecta mutation is present in many loss-of-function mutants and recombinant inbred lines. Information on how the absence of functional ERECTA affects the interpretation of obtained phenotypic results is scattered. In this report we inventoried ERECTA functions and highlight ERECTA as a pleiotropic regulator of developmental and physiological processes, as well as a modulator of responses to environmental stimuli

Ethylene-induced hyponastic growth in Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by ERECTA

Plants can respond quickly and profoundly to detrimental changes in their environment. For example, Arabidopsis thaliana can induce an upward leaf movement response through differential petiole growth (hyponastic growth) to outgrow complete submergence. This response is induced by accumulation of the phytohormone ethylene in the plant. Currently, only limited information is available on how this response is molecularly controlled. In this study, we utilized quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of natural genetic variation among Arabidopsis accessions to isolate novel factors controlling constitutive petiole angles and ethylene-induced hyponastic growth. Analysis of mutants in various backgrounds and complementation analysis of naturally occurring mutant accessions provided evidence that the leucin-rich repeat receptor-like Ser/Thr kinase gene, ERECTA, controls ethylene-induced hyponastic growth. Moreover, ERECTA controls leaf positioning in the absence of ethylene treatment. Our data demonstrate that this is not due to altered ethylene production or sensitivit

Ethylene-induced hyponastic growth in Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by ERECTA

Plants can respond quickly and profoundly to detrimental changes in their environment. For example, Arabidopsis thaliana can induce an upward leaf movement response through differential petiole growth (hyponastic growth) to outgrow complete submergence. This response is induced by accumulation of the phytohormone ethylene in the plant. Currently, only limited information is available on how this response is molecularly controlled. In this study, we utilized quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of natural genetic variation among Arabidopsis accessions to isolate novel factors controlling constitutive petiole angles and ethylene-induced hyponastic growth. Analysis of mutants in various backgrounds and complementation analysis of naturally occurring mutant accessions provided evidence that the leucin-rich repeat receptor-like Ser/Thr kinase gene, ERECTA, controls ethylene-induced hyponastic growth. Moreover, ERECTA controls leaf positioning in the absence of ethylene treatment. Our data demonstrate that this is not due to altered ethylene production or sensitivit