Proper division plane orientation and mitotic progression together allow normal growth of maize

Significance Speculation about the role of division plane orientation in the growth of a plant has hinged on two conflicting ideas. The first idea is that the plant body is specified at the tissue level and cells divide merely to fill in the space, making the orientation of division unimportant to the overall growth. The second idea is that the orientation of the division plane is critical for tissue-level patterning and therefore also impacts growth. This study suggests that misorientation of the division plane together with cell-cycle delays cannot be compensated for. Therefore, division plane orientation is a critical but potentially indirect factor for growth.