Plant Mothers Send Molecular 'Text Messages' to Pollen

Plant mothers send molecular 'text messages' to pollen

Small RNAs are short RNA molecules that help determine which genes in a cell are switched on or off. Until now, it was assumed that the small RNAs necessary for pollen development originate in the pollen itself and in the directly surrounding maternal tissue. However, a new study conducted by the MPI-MP reveals a surprisingly different picture: The crucial signals do not originate in the pollen, but in maternal tissue and can be transported over…

siRNA Transport Drives Pollen Development Functions

In a groundbreaking revelation set to reshape our understanding of plant reproductive biology, scientists have uncovered the intricate pathways through which small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) traverse vast distances within plants to exert functional control over pollen development. This discovery unveils an underexplored dimension of RNA signaling, demonstrating that siRNAs are not confined to their cells of origin but can be mobilized systemicall…