Abstract
In the plant cell wall, boron links two pectic domain rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) chains together to form a dimer and thus contributes to the reinforcement of cell adhesion. We studied the mur1-1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana which has lost the ability to form GDP-fucose in the shoots and show that the extent of RG-II cross-linking is reduced in the lignified stem of this mutant. Surprisingly, MUR1 mutation induced an enrichment of resistant interunit bonds in lignin and triggered the overexpression of many genes involved in lignified tissue formation and in jasmonic acid signaling. The defect in GDP-fucose synthesis induced a loss of cell adhesion at the interface between stele and cortex, as well as between interfascicular fibers. This led to the formation of regenerative xylem, where tissue detachment occurred, and underlined a loss of resistance to mechanical forces. Similar observations were also made on bor1-3 mutant stems which are altered in boron xylem loading, leading us to suggest that diminished RG-II dimerization is responsible for regenerative xylem formation.