In addition to leaf morphology, AtSPL10 and AtSPL11 have
been implicated in cell differentiation during early embryogenesis (Nodine and Bartel, 2010). Dicer-like 1 (dcl1) mutants have
decreased miRNA expression, resulting in derepression of several
hundred miRNA target genes, including AtSPL10 and AtSPL11,
and precocious differentiation of early embryonic cells. However,
when dcl1 mutants are crossed with atspl10:atspl11 mutants, normal embryogenesis is partially restored (Nodine and Bartel, 2010).
These data demonstrate redundant roles for AtSPL10 and AtSPL11
in both early and late stage differentiation.