Aging in Plants

Science Center, Bent Corridor

In the first eight days of maturation, Arabidopsis thaliana plants undergo a series of developmental changes that control shoot growth. The stages of development are well-studied in the shoots from the juvenile phase through the reproductive phase. The corresponding phases are less studied in the roots. By investigating select genes with known functions in the shoots, it is possible to construct a map of regulatory patterns seen in the roots and determine if it is comparable to that seen in the shoots. Arabidopsis root development patterns are investigated on a macro and micro scale, and ultimately demonstrate that there are similarities between phase-dependent changes in roots and shoots.