In search for the role of thermospermine synthase gene in poplar vascular development

Background Plant polyamines are preferentially detected in actively growing tissues and have been implicated in growth and developmental processes such as embryogenesis, floral developmental, fruit ripening, senescence and stress responses [1]. Recently it has been established a link between polyamines and vascular development as it was found that, in Arabidopsis, the loss-of-function mutants of ACAULIS5 (ACL5) gene, encoding thermospermine synthase, exhibit a severe dwarf phenotype, suggesting that thermospermine acts as a regulator of stem elongation [2,3]. However, in trees, no studies have yet been reported. Due to the relevance of vascular development in wood formation we are investigating the role of thermospermine in vascular tissues of poplar.