Elucidation of the Role of Auxin-Input Pathways in Auxin Homeostasis

    January 2014 in “ IRL - University of Missouri, St. Louis (University of Missouri–St. Louis) ”
    Gretchen M. Spiess
    TLDR Auxin pathways help maintain balance in plant growth and development.
    The study investigated the role of auxin-input pathways in maintaining auxin homeostasis, focusing on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and its storage forms in Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays. In Arabidopsis, mutants with disrupted pathways for converting IAA conjugates and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to free IAA exhibited low auxin phenotypes, such as abnormal vein patterning and altered root growth. These mutants showed increased expression of auxin biosynthetic genes, indicating a feedback mechanism to maintain homeostasis. Additionally, a novel role for IAA in seed germination was identified, with Gibberellic Acid (GA) able to rescue germination defects, suggesting an interaction between IAA and GA. In maize, disrupting IBA metabolism revealed developmental phenotypes similar to low auxin mutants, highlighting IBA's significant role in auxin homeostasis.
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