Transcription factors, also known as trans-acting factors, balance development and stress responses in plants. Branching plays an important role in plant morphogenesis and is closely related to plant biomass and crop yield. The apical meristem produced during plant embryonic development repeatedly produces the body of the plant, and the final aerial structure is regulated by the branching mode generated by axillary meristem (AM) activities. These branching patterns are regulated by two processes: AM formation and axillary bud growth. In recent years, transcription factors involved in regulating these processes have been identified. In addition, these transcription factors play an important role in various plant hormone pathways and photoresponses regulating plant branching. In this review, we start from the formation and growth of axillary meristems, including the regulation of hormones, light and other internal and external factors, and focus on the transcription factors involved in regulating plant branching and development to provide candidate genes for improving crop architecture through gene editing or directed breeding.
Keywords: axillary meristem; branching; development; transcription factors.