This article, published in the Plant Cell journal, discusses the regulatory mechanisms involved in crown root development in rice. The study focuses on the interaction between two transcription factors, WOX11 and LBD16, and their role in controlling the expression of genes related to crown root development. The researchers found that WOX11 recruits a histone demethylase called JMJ706 to activate the transcription of LBD16. However, as LBD16 accumulates, it competes with JMJ706 for interaction with WOX11, leading to the suppression of its own expression. This feedback mechanism helps fine-tune the growth of crown roots in rice. The study also highlights the potential interactions between LBD16 and other proteins and suggests further research to understand the comprehensive regulatory network underlying rice root architecture. Overall, this research expands our understanding of rice crown root development and provides insights into potential epigenetic mechanisms in other plant developmental processes. [Extracted from the article]