Altered expression of auxin-related genes in the fatty acid elongase mutant oni1 of rice

VLCFAs are the main components of cuticular wax, which covers and protects plants from physical and biological stresses. However, the effect of fatty acid composition or the physiological role of VLCFAs on plant development under normal growth conditions is not well understood. We analyzed loss-of-function mutants of ONION1 (ONI1) which encodes fatty acid elongase (β-ketoacyl CoA synthase) catalyzing an elongation reaction of a carbon chain of VLCFAs. We showed that oni1 shoot contained a reduced amount of VLCFAs, and differentiation and functionality of an outermost cell layer (L1) were highly perturbed in oni1 shoot. In spite of the L1-specific expression of ONI1, the effects of the oni1 mutation were not restricted to L1, but expanded to inner cells, so that the entire shoot development was impaired including failure of the maintenance of the SAM and ectopic expression of SAM-specific KNOX genes in leaf. Thus, ONI1 function is cell non-autonomous, and signaling from L1 to inner cells may support proper development of inner cells. Here we report that expression of auxin-related genes was affected in oni1 shoot, and we speculate the existence of improper auxin distribution due to a lack of normal L1 in oni1 shoot.