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Tabaracci K, Vos J, Robertson DJ. The effect of testing rate on biomechanical measurements related to stalk lodging. PLANT METHODS 2024; 20:125. [PMID: 39143635 PMCID: PMC11323486 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-024-01253-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stalk lodging (the premature breaking of plant stalks or stems prior to harvest) is a persistent agricultural problem that causes billions of dollars in lost yield every year. Three-point bending tests, and rind puncture tests are common biomechanical measurements utilized to investigate crops susceptibility to lodging. However, the effect of testing rate on these biomechanical measurements is not well understood. In general, biological specimens (including plant stems) are well known to exhibit viscoelastic mechanical properties, thus their mechanical response is dependent upon the rate at which they are deflected. However, there is very little information in the literature regarding the effect of testing rate (aka displacement rate) on flexural stiffness, bending strength and rind puncture measurements of plant stems. RESULTS Fully mature and senesced maize stems and wheat stems were tested in three-point bending at various rates. Maize stems were also subjected to rind penetration tests at various rates. Testing rate had a small effect on flexural stiffness and bending strength calculations obtained from three-point bending tests. Rind puncture measurements exhibited strong rate dependent effects. As puncture rate increased, puncture force decreased. This was unexpected as viscoelastic materials typically show an increase in resistive force when rate is increased. CONCLUSIONS Testing rate influenced three-point bending test results and rind puncture measurements of fully mature and dry plant stems. In green stems these effects are expected to be even larger. When conducting biomechanical tests of plant stems it is important to utilize consistent span lengths and displacement rates within a study. Ideally samples should be tested at a rate similar to what they would experience in-vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Tabaracci
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Jacques Vos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Daniel J Robertson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
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Zargar O, Yuan Z, Li Q, Finlayson S, Pharr M, Muliana A. The influence of microstructural characteristics and cell wall material properties on the mechanical behaviors of different tissues of sorghum stems. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2024; 150:106267. [PMID: 38070452 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Sorghum stems comprise different tissue components, i.e., rind, pith, and vascular bundles in the rind and pith regions, of different cell morphologies and cell wall characteristics. The overall responses of stems to mechanical loadings depend on the responses of these tissues themselves. Investigating how each tissue deforms to various loading conditions will inform us of the failure mechanisms in sorghum stems when exposed to wind loadings, which can guide the development of lodging-resistant variants. To this end, numerical analyses were implemented to investigate the effects of cell morphologies and cell wall properties on the overall mechanical responses of the above four tissues under tension and compression. Microstructures of different tissues were constructed from microscopic images of the tissues using computer-aided design (CAD), which were then used for finite element (FE) analyses. Shell finite elements were used to model the cell walls, and the classical lamination model was used to determine the overall mechanical responses of cell walls having different fiber composite arrangements. The results from the numerical analyses helped explain how the loading (boundary) conditions, the cell microstructures, the mechanical properties of cell walls of different tissues, the cell wall thickness, the microfibril angle (MFA) of fiber composites of the cell walls, and the turgor pressure affected the overall mechanical responses of the tissues. Tissue stiffening or softening behaviors were attributed to different microstructural deformations, i.e., local or global buckling of cell walls, cell collapse, densifications of cells, or reorientation and rearrangement of cells. The mechanical properties and thickness of cell walls only affected the stiffness and load-bearing ability of the tissues. The turgor pressure affected the compressive responses but its effect on tensile responses was negligible. The MFA had a significant influence on the stiffness and load-bearing ability when the tissues were loaded along their longitudinal axis, but it had an insignificant effect on loading in the transverse direction. Tissues with smaller cell sizes and denser cells were stronger and stiffer than those with larger cell sizes. The numerical simulations also revealed that rind and rind vascular bundles were stiffer and had higher load-bearing ability than pith and pith vascular bundles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Zargar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, United States
| | - Zhi Yuan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, United States
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, United States
| | - Scott Finlayson
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, United States
| | - Matt Pharr
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, United States
| | - Anastasia Muliana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, United States.
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Shen Y, Adnan M, Ma F, Kong L, Wang M, Jiang F, Hu Q, Yao W, Zhou Y, Zhang M, Huang J. A high-throughput phenotyping method for sugarcane rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force characterization by near-infrared spectroscopy. PLANT METHODS 2023; 19:101. [PMID: 37770966 PMCID: PMC10540387 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01076-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the core crop for sugar and bioethanol production over the world. A major problem in sugarcane production is stalk lodging due to weak mechanical strength. Rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) and breaking force are two kinds of regular parameters for mechanical strength characterization. However, due to the lack of efficient methods for determining RPR and breaking force in sugarcane, genetic approaches for improving these traits are generally limited. This study was designed to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration assay to accurately assess mechanical strength on a high-throughput basis for the first time. RESULTS Based on well-established laboratory measurements of sugarcane stalk internodes collected in the years 2019 and 2020, considerable variations in RPR and breaking force were observed in the stalk internodes. Following a standard NIRS calibration process, two online models were obtained with a high coefficient of determination (R2) and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) values during calibration, internal cross-validation, and external validation. Remarkably, the equation for RPR exhibited R2 and RPD values as high as 0.997 and 17.70, as well as showing relatively low root mean square error values at 0.44 N mm-2 during global modeling, demonstrating excellent predictive performance. CONCLUSIONS This study delivered a successful attempt for rapid and precise prediction of rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force in sugarcane stalk by NIRS assay. These established models can be used to improve phenotyping jobs for sugarcane germplasm on a large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinjuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi China-ASEAN Youth Industrial Park (Chongzuo Agricultural Hi-Tech Industry Demo Zone), Chongzuo, 532200, Guangxi, China
| | - Muhammad Adnan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Fumin Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Liyuan Kong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Maoyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Fuhong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Qian Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China
| | - Yongfang Zhou
- Nanning Sugar Industry Co., LTD, Nanning, 530028, Guangxi, China
| | - Muqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China.
| | - Jiangfeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology, Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center of Canesugar Industry, Academy of Sugarcane and Sugar Industry, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China.
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Li Q, Zargar O, Park S, Pharr M, Muliana A, Finlayson SA. Mechanical stimulation reprograms the sorghum internode transcriptome and broadly alters hormone homeostasis. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 327:111555. [PMID: 36481363 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Stem structural failure, or lodging, affects many crops including sorghum, and can cause large yield losses. Lodging is typically caused by mechanical forces associated with severe weather like high winds, but exposure to sub-catastrophic forces may strengthen stems and improve lodging resistance. The responses of sorghum internodes at different developmental stages were examined at 2 and 26 h after initiating moderate mechanical stimulation with an automated apparatus. Transcriptome profiling revealed that mechanical stimulation altered the expression of over 900 genes, including transcription factors, cell wall-related and hormone signaling-related genes. IAA, GA1 and ABA abundances generally declined following mechanical stimulation, while JA increased. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified three modules significantly enriched in GO terms associated with cell wall biology, hormone signaling and general stress responses, which were highly correlated with mechanical stimulation and with biomechanical and geometrical traits documented in a separate study. Additionally, mechanical stimulation-triggered responses were dependent on the developmental stage of the internode and the duration of stimulation. This study provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of plant hormone-regulated thigmomorphogenesis in sorghum stems. The critical biological processes and hub genes described here may offer opportunities to improve lodging resistance in sorghum and other crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Li
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Omid Zargar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Sungkyu Park
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Matt Pharr
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Anastasia Muliana
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Scott A Finlayson
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Faculty of Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA.
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Biomolecular Strategies for Vascular Bundle Development to Improve Crop Yield. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121772. [PMID: 36551200 PMCID: PMC9775962 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The need to produce crops with higher yields is critical due to a growing global population, depletion of agricultural land, and severe climate change. Compared with the "source" and "sink" transport systems that have been studied a lot, the development and utilization of vascular bundles (conducting vessels in plants) are increasingly important. Due to the complexity of the vascular system, its structure, and its delicate and deep position in the plant body, the current research on model plants remains basic knowledge and has not been repeated for crops and applied to field production. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge regarding biomolecular strategies of vascular bundles in transport systems (source-flow-sink), allocation, helping crop architecture establishment, and influence of the external environment. It is expected to help understand how to use sophisticated and advancing genetic engineering technology to improve the vascular system of crops to increase yield.
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Muszynska A, Guendel A, Melzer M, Tandron Moya YA, Röder MS, Rolletschek H, Rutten T, Munz E, Melz G, Ortleb S, Borisjuk L, Börner A. A mechanistic view on lodging resistance in rye and wheat: a multiscale comparative study. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:2646-2661. [PMID: 34449959 PMCID: PMC8633492 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of crop varieties that are resistant to lodging is a top priority for breeding programmes. Herein, we characterize the rye mutant ´Stabilstroh' ('stable straw') possessing an exceptional combination of high lodging resistance, tall posture and high biomass production. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging displayed the 3-dimensional assembly of vascular bundles in stem. A higher number of vascular bundles and a higher degree of their incline were the features of lodging-resistant versus lodging-prone lines. Histology and electron microscopy revealed that stems are fortified by a higher proportion of sclerenchyma and thickened cell walls, as well as some epidermal invaginations. Biochemical analysis using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry further identified elevated levels of lignin, xylan, zinc and silicon as features associated with high lodging resistance. Combined effects of above features caused superior culm stability. A simplistic mathematical model showed how mechanical forces distribute within the stem under stress. Main traits of the lodging-resistant parental line were heritable and could be traced back to the genetic structure of the mutant. Evaluation of lodging-resistant wheat 'Babax' ('Baviacora') versus contrasting, lodging-prone, genotype ´Pastor´ agreed with above findings on rye. Our findings on mechanical stability and extraordinary culm properties may be important for breeders for the improvement of lodging resistance of tall posture cereal crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Muszynska
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Andre Guendel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Michael Melzer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | | | - Marion S. Röder
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Hardy Rolletschek
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Twan Rutten
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Eberhard Munz
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
- Institute of Experimental Physics 5University of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | | | - Stefan Ortleb
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Ljudmilla Borisjuk
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
| | - Andreas Börner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)Stadt SeelandGermany
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