The Multidimensional Regulatory Network of Trichome Development: From Transcription Factors to Hormone Signaling Integration

Trichomes are specialized structures derived from epidermal cells differentiation, which are widely distributed in angiosperms, gymnosperms and bryophytes, and exhibit remarkable morphological diversity. Based on structural characteristics, trichomes are classified into secretory (glandular trichomes) and non-secretory (non-glandular trichomes) types, both of which play pivotal roles in the adaptation to the environment. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, with its unicellular non-glandular trichomes, has become a classic system for studying plant cell differentiation and morphogenesis. This review systematically synthesizes advances in Arabidopsis trichome research, delineates conserved and species-specific regulatory mechanisms of trichome development across diverse taxa, and dissects the genetic regulatory networks governing trichome initiation, endoreduplication (nuclear DNA replication), cell division, and branching morphogenesis. These networks precisely coordinate plant morphogenesis, stress resilience, metabolic regulation, and environmental adaptability through hormonal signaling and epigenetic modifications, thereby establishing a theoretical framework for plant developmental biology and molecular breeding.