Novel Roles of SPATULA in the Control of Stomata and Trichome Number, and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis
Judith Jazmin Bernal-Gallardo,
Victor M. Zuñiga-Mayo,
Nayelli Marsch-Martinez,
Stefan de Folter
Affiliations
Judith Jazmin Bernal-Gallardo
Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-Langebio), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato 36824, Mexico
Victor M. Zuñiga-Mayo
Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-Langebio), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato 36824, Mexico
Nayelli Marsch-Martinez
Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Unidad Irapuato, CINVESTAV-IPN, Irapuato 36824, Mexico
Stefan de Folter
Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-Langebio), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato 36824, Mexico
The bHLH transcription factor SPATULA (SPT) has been identified as a regulator during different stages of Arabidopsis development, including the control of leaf size. However, the mechanism via which it performs this function has not been elucidated. To better understand the role of SPT during leaf development, we used a transcriptomic approach to identify putative target genes. We found putative SPT target genes related to leaf development, and to stomata and trichome formation. Furthermore, genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this work, we demonstrate that SPT is a negative regulator of stomata number and a positive regulator of trichome number. In addition, SPT is required for sucrose-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis.