Plants grow by absorbing carbon dioxide through tiny pores called stomata, according to researchers at Stanford University. These structures are crucial for plant growth and are the focus of studies led by Stanford Biology Professor Dominique Bergmann.
Professor Bergmann is exploring the development of stomata in plants like Arabidopsis thaliana. This plant gained attention in 2000 when its entire DNA was decoded, allowing scientists to study its genes extensively. More recently, Arabidopsis was successfully grown in moon soil from the Apollo missions.
The research conducted by Bergmann’s team aims to understand how plant cells create and maintain their functions. They have used single-cell RNA sequencing to track genetic activity during leaf development, uncovering new details about cell division and structure formation.
Bergmann’s team has discovered that protein “compasses” guide nuclear movement during leaf development, controlling stem cell divisions. Unlike animal cells, plant stem cells push away the cytoskeleton rather than pulling on it to control division.
Their research shows that cells consider their size and communicate with neighboring cells to decide whether to continue dividing. The team’s findings could help adapt agricultural plants like tomatoes and cereal grasses to changing climates.
Professor Bergmann holds the Shirley R. and Leonard W. Ely Jr. Professorship in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University and is a member of Stanford Bio-X and the Stanford Cancer Institute.
