Distinct and redundant roles of the Arabidopsis OCTOPUS gene family in plant growth beyond phloem development

Abstract

The Arabidopsis root apical meristem is an excellent model for studying plant organ growth. This involves a coordinated process of cell division, elongation, and differentiation, with each tissue type developing according to its own schedule. Among these tissues, the protophloem is particularly important, differentiating early to supply nutrients and signalling molecules to the growing root tip. The OCTOPUS (OPS) protein and its homologue OPS-LIKE 2 (OPL2) are essential for proper root protophloem differentiation and, probably through this role, indirectly promote root growth. Here, we explored the roles of the other three OPS homologues in Arabidopsis, OPL1, OPL3, and OPL4. OPS/OPL genes exhibited overlapping expression patterns and functions, with a high degree of redundancy among them. Although higher order mutants did not display more severe phloem defects, they exhibited significantly reduced root growth compared with the ops opl2 mutant. These results indicate a direct contribution of the investigated OPL genes to meristematic activity. While our focus was on root growth, the OPS/OPL gene family also plays a positive role in regulating shoot growth, emphasizing its broader impact on plant development. Furthermore, our analyses reiterate the central role of OPS and the phloem domain in controlling overall plant growth.