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Analyzing Shoot Apical Meristem Development

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 655))

Abstract

The shoot apical meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana contains a reservoir of pluripotent stem cells that functions as a continuous source of new cells for organ formation during development. The SAM forms during embryogenesis, when it becomes stratified into specific cell layers and zones that can be delineated based on morphological and molecular criteria. The primary SAM produces all the aerial structures of the adult plant, and alterations in SAM organization or function can have profound effects on vegetative and reproductive plant morphology. Such SAM-specific defects can be identified, evaluated, and quantified using specialized microscopic and histological techniques.

Cristel C. Carles, Chan Man Ha, Ji Hyung Jun, Elisa Fiume, have contributed equally to this work.

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Acknowledgments

We thank George Chuck, Harley Smith, and Sabine Zachgo for sharing protocols and giving suggestions on the in situ hybridization technique, and Helena Pires and Jinsun Kim for helpful comments. This work is supported by USDA CRIS 5335-21000-016-00D and NSF IOS-0718843.

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Carles, C.C., Ha, C.M., Jun, J.H., Fiume, E., Fletcher, J.C. (2010). Analyzing Shoot Apical Meristem Development. In: Hennig, L., Köhler, C. (eds) Plant Developmental Biology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 655. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-765-5_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-765-5_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-764-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-765-5

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