Plasticity of the Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem during floral transition

The floral transition is a critical developmental process that drives the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive stage. This process involves changes in the shape and identity of the shoot apical meristem (SAM), transitioning it from the vegetative to the inflorescence state and initiating the formation of flowers. Recent studies in Arabidopsis have explored how SAM organization changes with SAM morphology during the induction of floral transition by environmental cues, and analysed related changes that occur in response to the metabolic and photosynthetic status of the plant. In parallel, regulatory networks ensure SAM maintenance, robustness and indeterminacy. The plasticity of the SAM in response to environmental and developmental signals is central to understanding how plants adapt to changing conditions while preserving key developmental programs. In this review, we focus on recent advances in understanding the regulation of SAM identity and the plasticity of meristem networks, emphasizing in particular the integration of gene regulatory networks controlling floral transition and SAM maintenance.