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Cellular dynamics in the maize leaf growth zone during recovery from chilling depends on the leaf developmental stage

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A novel non-steady-state kinematic analysis shows differences in cell division and expansion determining a better recovery from a 3-day cold spell in emerged compared to non-emerged maize leaves.

Abstract

Zea mays is highly sensitive to chilling which frequently occurs during its seedling stage. Although the direct effect of chilling is well studied, the mechanisms determining the subsequent recovery are still unknown. Our goal is to determine the cellular basis of the leaf growth response to chilling and during recovery of leaves exposed before or after their emergence. We first studied the effect of a 3-day cold spell on leaf growth at the plant level. Then, we performed a kinematic analysis to analyse the dynamics of cell division and elongation during recovery of the 4th leaf after exposure to cold before or after emergence. Our results demonstrated cold more strongly reduced the final length of non-emerged than emerged leaves (− 13 vs. − 18%). This was not related to growth differences during cold, but a faster and more complete recovery of the growth of emerged leaves. This difference was due to a higher cell division rate on the 1st and a higher cell elongation rate on the 2nd day of recovery, respectively. The dynamics of cell division and expansion during recovery determines developmental stage-specific differences in cold tolerance of maize leaves.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by The University Research Fund (BOF) with a PhD fellowship. The authors thank Senne Note who contributed to data generation.

Funding

This work was supported by The University Research Fund (BOF) from the University of Antwerp [Grant no. FFB190218].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), Department of Biology, Antwerp University, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Cindy M. S. Lainé, Hamada AbdElgawad & Gerrit T. S. Beemster

  2. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt

    Hamada AbdElgawad

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  1. Cindy M. S. Lainé
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  2. Hamada AbdElgawad
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  3. Gerrit T. S. Beemster
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CL performed the data analysis and wrote the paper. HAE and GB conceived the idea, supervised the analyses and contributed to the writing.

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Correspondence to Cindy M. S. Lainé or Gerrit T. S. Beemster.

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Lainé, C.M.S., AbdElgawad, H. & Beemster, G.T.S. Cellular dynamics in the maize leaf growth zone during recovery from chilling depends on the leaf developmental stage. Plant Cell Rep 43, 38 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-023-03116-4

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