The mechanistic basis of plant architecture regulation is one of the fundamental questions in plant science. Extensive studies on model species (e.g., Arabidopsis) and crop plants (e.g., rice and maize) have been conducted to understand the physiological regulation of plant height, root and shoot branching, apical and axillary meristem activities, the development of inflorescences and floral organs, etc. On the other hand, ideotype breeding for crop plants with desirable architecture is the growing trend to develop crop varieties with improved traits, including higher yields, fast growth, and stress tolerance. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms underlying plant architecture regulation will not only deepen our understanding of the fundamental plant science issue but also facilitate crop breeding in modern agriculture.

The establishment of plant architecture is governed by a complex interaction of regulatory networks, which involve miRNAs, phytohormones, key transcription factors, and metabolic and environmental factors. A large portion of studies on hormonal and metabolic pathways have been conducted on the model plant system, Arabidopsis. However, our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms of the factors that regulate plant architecture remains limited.

This research topic aims to highlight the molecular regulatory mechanisms of plant architecture, which will eventually help develop the ideal plant phenotype for crop breeding. We welcome submissions of original research papers, reviews, and methods on the following sub-themes and other relevant topics:
• Regulatory mechanisms of plant architecture by phytohormones.
• Identification and characterization of novel pathways and genes involved in plant architecture.
• Functions of miRNAs in controlling plant architecture.
• Molecular and functional genomic approaches for ideotype breeding.

Please note that descriptive studies and those defining gene families or descriptive collections of transcripts, proteins, or metabolites, will not be considered for review unless they are expanded to provide mechanistic and/or physiological insights into the biological system or process being studied.

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Frontiers in Plant Science

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