Tuning growth to the environmental demands

When plants encounter adverse environmental conditions, they often respond by modifying their growth patterns. This growth response tunes morphogenesis with environmental demands and allows plants to prioritize stress response over growth. The underlying molecular mechanism involves an active reprogramming of cell proliferation and cell expansion. Recent studies are starting to shed light on how various environmental and developmental cues are integrated and how this integration affects growth regulatory processes. Environmental signals modulate developmental pathways at multiple entry points, by which they tune the outcome of developmental pathways. In addition, developmental regulators mediate universal stress signals to a proper local response.

► Stress modifies cell division and cell expansion through a plethora of pathways. ► Developmental signalling is intertwined at multiple levels with stress signalling. ► Developmental regulators translate systemic stress signals to a local response.