As a developmental biologist, I’m fascinated by how multicellular organisms form diverse patterns. My research focuses on the patterning of plant tissues, specifically vein formation in plant leaves. I did my Ph.D. at the University of Missouri, USA, where I investigated how plant hormones coordinate leaf growth and vein formation in the model grass crop, maize. I now work as an assistant teaching professor at Ateneo de Manila University. In the future, I plan to establish a research program on applied developmental biology focused on engineering climate-resilient crops by improving leaf vascularization.
I worked as a freelance graphic designer before attending graduate school. I enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the beach and the greenery and sense of community in the countryside and farmlands. During my free time, I socialize with friends, listen to Latin music, or watch anything with zombies.
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Hormonal control of medial–lateral growth and vein formation in the maize leaf
J. M. ROBIL 1, P. MCSTEEN2
Grasses are global sources of food and biofuel, and their strap-like leaves and parallel veins are key to their productivity. However, how grass leaves grow and how their parallel veins form remain poorly understood. Using maize as a model, we addressed that problem by investigating how plant hormones coordinate medial–lateral leaf growth and parallel vein formation. Through image analysis, we found that the leaves of auxin-deficient mutants have more veins and are correspondingly wider, suggesting that auxin promotes leaf growth and vein formation. With new methods to image maize leaf primordia, we mapped cellular responses to the plant hormones auxin, cytokinin (CK), and gibberellic acid (GA). Through genetic analysis and hormone quantification, we further defined the roles of those hormones in leaf and vein development. We found that auxin response peaks in the leaf epidermis, that auxin transport precedes CK response in developing veins, and that increased CK response normalizes the leaf width and vein number in auxin-deficient mutants. We also found that GA inhibits leaf growth early and later in development and that GA levels are reduced in auxin-deficient leaves. Our results suggest that auxin coordinates leaf growth and vein formation by regulating GA and CK. Our findings advance our understanding of grass leaf growth and parallel vein formation and suggest ways to improve the yield of grass crops by decoupling these processes.
1- Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila, 1108 Philippines
2- Division of Biological Sciences, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA 65201
Funding Sources: JMR was supported by J. William Fulbright Fellowship, The Diane P. and Robert E. Sharp Fund, and National Science Foundation, Plant Genome Research Program IOS-1546873 to PM.
Conferences Support: New Phytologist Foundation and Ateneo de Manila University