vegetative phase change
{{Short description|Transition in plants}}
Vegetative phase change is the juvenile-to-adult transition in plants.{{Cite journal | last1 = Poethig | first1 = R. S. | title = The past, present, and future of vegetative phase change | doi = 10.1104/pp.110.161620 | journal = Plant Physiology | volume = 154 | issue = 2 | pages = 541–544 | year = 2010 | pmid = 20921181| pmc =2949024 }}
This transition is distinct from the reproductive transition and is most prolonged and pronounced in woody species. Manipulating phase change may be an important avenue for plant improvement.{{Cite journal | last1 = Chuck | first1 = G. S. | last2 = Tobias | first2 = C. | last3 = Sun | first3 = L. | last4 = Kraemer | first4 = F. | last5 = Li | first5 = C. | last6 = Dibble | first6 = D. | last7 = Arora | first7 = R. | last8 = Bragg | first8 = J. N. | last9 = Vogel | first9 = J. P. | last10 = Singh | first10 = S. | last11 = Simmons | first11 = B. A. | last12 = Pauly | first12 = M. | last13 = Hake | first13 = S. | title = Overexpression of the maize Corngrass1 microRNA prevents flowering, improves digestibility, and increases starch content of switchgrass | doi = 10.1073/pnas.1113971108 | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | volume = 108 | issue = 42 | pages = 17550–17555 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21987797| pmc = 3198312| bibcode = 2011PNAS..10817550C | doi-access = free }}
In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, vegetative phase change is relatively subtle: leaves become more curled, with an increased number of abaxial trichomes, and increased serration.{{Cite journal
| last1 = Telfer | first1 = A.
| last2 = Bollman | first2 = K. M.
| last3 = Poethig | first3 = R. S.
| title = Phase change and the regulation of trichome distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana
| journal = Development
| volume = 124
| issue = 3
| pages = 645–654
| year = 1997
| doi = 10.1242/dev.124.3.645
| pmid = 9043079
}} Studies in A. thaliana and maize identified microRNA MIR156 genes as master regulators of phase change, through their regulation of SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER-BINDING-LIKE (SBP/SPL) transcription factors.{{Cite journal | last1 = Wu | first1 = G. | last2 = Poethig | first2 = R. S. | title = Temporal regulation of shoot development in Arabidopsis thaliana by miR156 and its target SPL3 | doi = 10.1242/dev.02521 | journal = Development | volume = 133 | issue = 18 | pages = 3539–3547 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16914499| pmc =1610107 }}{{Cite journal | last1 = Chuck | first1 = G. | last2 = Cigan | first2 = A. M. | last3 = Saeteurn | first3 = K. | last4 = Hake | first4 = S. | title = The heterochronic maize mutant Corngrass1 results from overexpression of a tandem microRNA | doi = 10.1038/ng2001 | journal = Nature Genetics | volume = 39 | issue = 4 | pages = 544–549 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17369828| s2cid = 20014922 }} This gene regulatory circuit appears to be conserved (with variations) in all land plants, including mosses.