Brassinosteroids are required for efficient root tip regeneration in Arabidopsis

Abstract

Compared with other organisms, plants have an extraordinary capacity for self-repair. Even if the entire tissues, including the stem cells, are resected, most plant species are able to completely regenerate whole tissues. However, the mechanism by which plants efficiently regenerate the stem cell niche during tissue reorganization is still largely unknown. Here, we found that the signaling mediated by plant steroid hormones brassinosteroids is activated during stem cell formation after root tip excision in Arabidopsis. Treatment with brassinazole, an inhibitor of brassinosteroid biosynthesis, delayed the recovery of stem cell niche after root tip excision. Regeneration of root tip after resection was also delayed in a brassinosteroid receptor mutant. Therefore, we propose that brassinosteroids participate in efficient root tip regeneration, thereby enabling efficient tissue regeneration to ensure continuous root growth after resection.