Abstract
Leaf venation pattern is determined by pattern of the procambium that is the precursor tissue of the vasculature. To understand the mechanism regulating procambium patterning, we isolated and analyzed Arabidopsis mutant 3B-55 which has aberrant leaf venation pattern. In 3B-55, free-ending secondary veins are observed much more frequently than in wild type and the number of higher-order veins reduces prominently. Fragmented minor veins appear occasionally. Shapes of leaf laminas also exhibit abnormality. These suggest that 3B-55 gene is required both for leaf lamina development and for leaf vascular patterning. An analysis of the expression pattern of 3B-55 gene and subcellular localization of 3B-55 protein is now in progress. Expression patterns of procambium marker AtHB8 and auxin-distribution marker DR5 in 3B-55 mutant will also be presented.
