The role of auxin in apical-basal pattern formation during Arabidopsis embryogenesis

Pattern formation during plant development has been a focus Of scientific attention for a very long time. The results showed that only an approach integrating different scientific disciplines will allow us to understand the mechanisms regulating pattern formation. The Purpose of this review is to bring together results from physiological, morphological, and genetic approaches in order to provide a conceptual overview of our current understanding of apical-basal patterning processes during plant development. For the sake of clarity and because most of the recent results derive from Arabdiposis, the focus of the review will be on this model plant. To provide a basis for further discussions, a cursory overview of auxin biology will be given followed by a morphological description of Arabipdosis embryogenesis. Apical-basal axis formation and formation of the primary root will be discussed in addition to the establishment of bilateral symmetry during embryogenesis.