Spatially expressed WIP genes control Arabidopsis embryonic root development.

Development of plant organs is a highly organized process. In Arabidopsis, proper root development requires that distinct cell types and tissue layers are specified and formed in a restricted manner in space and over time. Despite its importance, genetic controls underlying such regularity remain elusive.

Integrative genome-wide analysis reveals the role of WIP proteins in inhibition of growth and development.

In cucurbits, CmWIP1 is a master gene controlling sex determination. To bring new insight in the function of CmWIP1, we investigated two Arabidopsis WIP transcription factors, AtWIP1/TT1 and AtWIP2/NTT. Using an inducible system we showed that WIPs are powerful inhibitor of growth and inducer of cell death.