Cell Division and Meristem Dynamics in Fern Gametophytes

Abstract

One of the most important questions in all multicellular organisms is how to define and maintain different cell fates during continuous cell division and proliferation. Plant meristems provide a unique research system to address this fundamental question because meristems dynamically maintain themselves and sustain organogenesis through balancing cell division and cell differentiation. Different from the gametophytes of seed plants that depend on their sporophytes and lack meristems, the gametophytes of seed-free ferns develop different types of meristems (including apical cell-based meristems and multicellular apical and marginal meristems) to promote independent growth and proliferation during the sexual gametophyte phase. Recent studies combining confocal time-lapse imaging and computational image analysis reveal the cellular basis of the initiation and proliferation of different types of meristems in fern gametophytes, providing new insights into the evolution of meristems in land plants. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in understanding the cell growth dynamics in fern gametophytes and discuss both conserved and diversified mechanisms underlying meristem cell proliferation in seed-free vascular plants.

Transcriptomic analyses in the gametophyte of Dryopteris affinis: apomixis and more

“…These proteins showed very low E-values in the in silico analyses performed, as the leaves of seed plants and ferns probably had initially the same common ancestor although they later evolved independently (Zumajo-Cardona et al, 2019). Likewise, meristems are another important structure in fern gametophytes, which show apical cell-based meristems and multicellular apical and marginal meristems (Wu et al 2023). Fern sporophytes also show three types of meristems: root apical meristem, leaf apical meristem and shoot apical meristem (Schneider et al, 2013).…”