植物干细胞的研究进展

Towa rds Understanding of Plant Stem Cells

植物的形态建成主要依赖于胚后发育过程中生长点干细胞不断形成新的器官以及建立新的生长点。因此植物干细胞活性与功能的研究是植物发育生物学研究的热点与难点。与动物干细胞类似,植物干细胞一方面自我维持,一方面分化形成新的组织器官。但植物干细胞存在于胚胎期形成的顶端分生组织、胚后形成的侧生分生组织及再生过程中体细胞命运转变所建立的新生长点。这些不同类型干细胞的形成与调控共同决定了自然界中千姿百态的植物形态以及对生境的适应性,也决定了作物的株型和产量。植物干细胞的研究还是农业生物技术特别是组织培养技术和转基因技术的基础。因此,植物干细胞研究不仅是阐明植物可塑性的根本,也是现代农业生物技术的基础。我国近年来在植物干细胞研究领域均取得了一系列重要的进展。本文对近年来植物干细胞领域国内外的重要工作进行简要概述,并展望了未来植物干细胞研究关注的主要问题及研究方向。

Plant morphogenesis relies on the continuous orga- nogenesis and establishment of new stem cell niches during post-embryonic development. Thus, the activity and cell fate change of plant stem cells are central for plant development. Similar to stem cells in animals, plant stem cells renew themselves and differentiate into new tissues and organs. However, plant stem cells are organized into a specialized tissue termed meristem, which exists in the shoot and root apexes, newly formed axillary buds, and de novo regenerated shoots and roots. These stem cells confer plants with diversified architec- ture and remarkable capability to adapt to ever-changing environment. Furthermore, manipulation of stem cell activity is also fundamental for crop yield and plant bio- technology, such as in vitro propagation and gene trans- formation. Recent studies, including those in China, have made exciting progresses in the field of plant stem cell biology. This review briefly summarizes recent advances and highlights the prospective in plant stem cell research.