The CAPRICE-LIKE MYB gene family cooperatively controls trichome branching and clustering in Arabidopsis

Abstract

e CAPRICE-LIKE MYB gene family, including CAPRICE (CPC), TRIPTYCHON (TRY), ENHANCER OF TRY AND CPC1 and 2 (ETC1 and ETC2), CPC-LIKE MYB3/ENHANCER OF TRY AND CPC3 (CPL3/ETC3), encodes a small protein with an R3-type MYB motif that regulates leaf trichome di erentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. To understand the role of CPC-LIKE MYB genes in trichome development, we focused on the e ect of these genes on trichome branching and clustering. Trichomes of the try etc1 double mutant consistently had more branches than wild-type and the try single mutant, suggesting that the TRY and ETC1 genes cooperatively regulate trichome branch development. e ETC2 gene has little to no involvement in trichome branching. TRY and CPC are known to have strong e ects on trichome cluster formation. Double and triple mutant analyses revealed that the ETC1, ETC2 and CPL3 genes have some degree of functional redundancy with TRY in trichome cluster formation.