Author
LUCAS, WILLIAM - University Of California | |
GROOVER, ANDREW - Forest Service (FS) | |
LICHTENBERGER, RAFFAEL - University Of Helsinki | |
FURUTA, KAORI - University Of Helsinki | |
YADAV, SHRI-RAM - University Of Helsinki | |
HELARIUTTA, YKA - University Of Helsinki | |
HE, XIN-QIANG - Peking University | |
FUKUDA, HIROO - University Of Tokyo | |
KANG, JULIE - University Of Northern Iowa | |
BRADY, SIOBAHN - University Of California | |
PATRICK, JOHN - University Of Newcastle | |
SPERRY, JOHN - University Of Utah | |
YOSHIDA, AKIKO - University Of California | |
LOPEZ-MILLAN, ANA-FLOR - Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) | |
Grusak, Michael | |
KACHROO, PRADEEP - University Of Kentucky |
Submitted to: Journal of Integrative Plant Biology
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2013 Publication Date: 4/1/2013 Citation: Lucas, W.J., Groover, A., Lichtenberger, R., Furuta, K., Yadav, S., Helariutta, Y., He, X., Fukuda, H., Kang, J., Brady, S.M., Patrick, J.W., Sperry, J., Yoshida, A., Lopez-Millan, A., Grusak, M.A., Kachroo, P. 2013. The plant vascular system: Evolution, development and functions. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. 55(4):294-388. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The emergence of the tracheophyte-based vascular system of land plants had major impacts on the evolution of terrestrial biology, in general, through its role in facilitating the development of plants with increased stature, photosynthetic output, and ability to colonize a greatly expanded range of environmental habitats. Recently, considerable progress has been made in terms of our understanding of the developmental and physiological programs involved in the formation and function of the plant vascular system. In this review, we first examine the evolutionary events that gave rise to the tracheophytes, followed by analysis of the genetic and hormonal networks that cooperate to orchestrate vascular development in the gymnosperms and angiosperms. The two essential functions performed by the vascular system, namely the delivery of resources (water, essential mineral nutrients, sugars, and amino acids) to the various plant organs and provision of mechanical support, are next discussed. Here, we focus on critical questions relating to structural and physiological properties controlling the delivery of material through the xylem and phloem. Recent discoveries into the role of the vascular system as an effective long-distance communication system are next assessed in terms of the coordination of developmental, physiological, and defense-related processes, at the whole-plant level. A concerted effort has been made to integrate all these new findings into a comprehensive picture of the state-of-the-art in the area of plant vascular biology. Finally, areas important for future research are highlighted in terms of their likely contribution both to basic knowledge and to applications to primary industry. |