In most plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is easy to discern. Upon transition to the reproductive phase, the SAM turns into an inflorescence meristem (IM) that produces flowers directly or flower-bearing shoots 4– 6. During the vegetative stage, the shoot apical meristem (SAM), located at the shoot tip, produces leaf primordia from its end in a sequential and modular manner, and vegetative shoots are generated from axillary meristems in leaf axils 2, 3. In flowering plants, shoot architecture is largely determined by the organization and activities of meristems, including apical, axillary, and inflorescence meristems 1. Despite its plasticity to prevailing environmental conditions, shoot architecture has species-specific characteristics, indicating the involvement of genetic regulatory mechanisms. In nature, much of the diversity and beauty observed can be attributed to the tremendous variability in plant architecture. We also discuss the potential of applying biotechnology tools and resources for the generation of ideal plant types with desired architectural features to improve cucumber productivity and cultivation efficiency. In this review, we focus on recent progress on elucidating the genetic regulatory pathways underlying the determinant/indeterminant growth habit, leaf shape, branch outgrowth, tendril identity, and vine length determination in cucumber. Despite substantial advances achieved in understanding the regulation of plant form in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, and maize, our understanding of the mechanisms controlling shoot architecture in Cucurbitaceae crop species is still limited. Unlike most model plant species, cucumber undergoes vegetative growth and reproductive growth simultaneously, in which leaves are produced from the shoot apical meristem and flowers are generated from leaf axils, during the majority of its life, a feature representative of the Cucurbitaceae family. Shoot architecture determines the visual appearance of plants and has a strong impact on crop management and yield. Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop species with great economic value.
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