The genetic and biomolecular mechanisms that give rise to complex 3D shapes in plant organs have been widely studied, but the role of biomechanical factors is unclear.
Researchers combined quantitative analyses of live plants with computational simulations to elucidate how mechanical stress and deformation influence plant leaf morphology. Within a leaf, growth strain, defined as the differential change in length between the center stem and a segment parallel to the stem, increased according to a power-law distribution from the center stem to the edge.
Two parameters—the value of the power-law exponent that defines the strain profile and the maximum strain value—determined the leaf morphology in growth simulations. The authors constructed a phase diagram illustrating how each of four common leaf geometries—twisting, helical twisting, saddle bending, and edge waving—are associated with specific combinations of the parameters.
By manipulation of the two key parameters, the authors reproduced the geometries in a hydrogel, the formation of which mimics plant growth. The results provide a general framework for understanding shape formation in plant organs and suggest ways to generate bio-inspired structures in soft materials, according to the authors.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/11/14/1811296115
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Fdifferential-growth-and&filter=22
Shape formation in plants
- 1,404 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
Abusive drugs hijack natura…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Mechanism of action of the…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Role of fat in rare neurolo…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
How protein synthesis in de…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Apr
Atlas of mRNA variants in d…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Apr
Other Top Stories
High-Throughput Assay for Malaria Transmission
Read more
microRNA Function During Virus Infection
Read more
A New Trick for Artificial Photosynthesis
Read more
Mechanism of fungal killing!
Read more
Tissue-specific protein profiles in sepsis
Read more
Protocols
A programmable targeted pro…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Publications
Exploiting pancreatic cance…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Structure of antiviral drug…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Type-I-interferon-responsiv…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Selenium, diabetes, and the…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Long-term neuropsychologica…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar