Towards a functional understanding of cell growth dynamics in shoot meristem stem-cell niche.

Shoot apical meristems (SAMs) harbor a set of stem-cells which supply cells for the development of all above-ground structures. A precise spatio-temporal control of growth patterns in stem-cells and the differentiating progeny is critical to maintain a stable set of stem-cells. In recent years, an array of approaches including molecular genetics, transient perturbations, live-imaging, image processing and mathematical modeling have been employed to study the cellular dynamics. In this article, we highlight recent studies that link cell-cell communication mechanisms to cell mechanics and overall growth control that govern stem-cell homeostasis and morphogenesis in SAMs.