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Pereira D, Alline T, Cascaro L, Lin E, Asnacios A. Mechanical resistance of the environment affects root hair growth and nucleus dynamics. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13788. [PMID: 38877117 PMCID: PMC11178823 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64423-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Root hair (RH) cells are important for the growth and survival of seedlings. They favor plant-microbe interactions and nutrients uptake. When invading the soil, RH cells have to penetrate a dense medium exhibiting a variety of physical properties, such as mechanical resistance, that impact the growth and survival of plants. Here we investigate the effect of the mechanical resistance of the culture medium on RH-physical and phenotypical parameters such as length, time, and speed of growth. We also analyze the impact of the environment on nuclear dynamics. We show that the RH growth rate and the nucleus speed decrease similarly as mechanical resistance increases while the time of growth of RH cells is invariable. Moreover, during RH growth, the nucleus-to-tip distance was found to decrease when the stiffness of the environment was increased. Along this line, using Latrunculin B treatment in liquid growth media, we could internally slow down RH growth to reach speeds similar to those observed in stiff solid media while the nucleus-to-tip distance was only slightly affected, supporting thus the idea of a specific effect of mechanical resistance of the environment on nucleus dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pereira
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7057, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75013, Paris, France.
| | - Thomas Alline
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7057, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Léa Cascaro
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7057, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Lin
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7057, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Atef Asnacios
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7057, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75013, Paris, France.
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2
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Ye Z, Mu Y, Van Duzen S, Ryser P. Root and shoot phenology, architecture, and organ properties: an integrated trait network among 44 herbaceous wetland species. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024. [PMID: 38600040 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Integrating traits across above- and belowground organs offers comprehensive insights into plant ecology, but their various functions also increase model complexity. This study aimed to illuminate the interspecific pattern of whole-plant trait correlations through a network lens, including a detailed analysis of the root system. Using a network algorithm that allows individual traits to belong to multiple modules, we characterize interrelations among 19 traits, spanning both shoot and root phenology, architecture, morphology, and tissue properties of 44 species, mostly herbaceous monocots from Northern Ontario wetlands, grown in a common garden. The resulting trait network shows three distinct yet partially overlapping modules. Two major trait modules indicate constraints of plant size and form, and resource economics, respectively. These modules highlight the interdependence between shoot size, root architecture and porosity, and a shoot-root coordination in phenology and dry-matter content. A third module depicts leaf biomechanical adaptations specific to wetland graminoids. All three modules overlap on shoot height, suggesting multifaceted constraints of plant stature. In the network, individual-level traits showed significantly higher centrality than tissue-level traits do, demonstrating a hierarchical trait integration. The presented whole-plant, integrated network suggests that trait covariation is essentially function-driven rather than organ-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqi Ye
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Yanmei Mu
- Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shianne Van Duzen
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Peter Ryser
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
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3
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Porat A, Tekinalp A, Bhosale Y, Gazzola M, Meroz Y. On the mechanical origins of waving, coiling and skewing in Arabidopsis thaliana roots. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312761121. [PMID: 38446852 PMCID: PMC10945788 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312761121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
By masterfully balancing directed growth and passive mechanics, plant roots are remarkably capable of navigating complex heterogeneous environments to find resources. Here, we present a theoretical and numerical framework which allows us to interrogate and simulate the mechanical impact of solid interfaces on the growth pattern of plant organs. We focus on the well-known waving, coiling, and skewing patterns exhibited by roots of Arabidopsis thaliana when grown on inclined surfaces, serving as a minimal model of the intricate interplay with solid substrates. By modeling growing slender organs as Cosserat rods that mechanically interact with the environment, our simulations verify hypotheses of waving and coiling arising from the combination of active gravitropism and passive root-plane responses. Skewing is instead related to intrinsic twist due to cell file rotation. Numerical investigations are outfitted with an analytical framework that consistently relates transitions between straight, waving, coiling, and skewing patterns with substrate tilt angle. Simulations are found to corroborate theory and recapitulate a host of reported experimental observations, thus providing a systematic approach for studying in silico plant organs behavior in relation to their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Porat
- Department of Condensed Matter, School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- Center for Physics, Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
| | - Arman Tekinalp
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL61801
| | - Yashraj Bhosale
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL61801
| | - Mattia Gazzola
- Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL61801
| | - Yasmine Meroz
- Center for Physics, Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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4
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McCahill IW, Khahani B, Probert CF, Flockhart EL, Abushal LT, Gregory GA, Zhang Y, Baumgart LA, O’Malley RC, Hazen SP. Shoring up the base: the development and regulation of cortical sclerenchyma in grass nodal roots. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.25.577257. [PMID: 38352548 PMCID: PMC10862697 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.25.577257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Plants depend on the combined action of a shoot-root-soil system to maintain their anchorage to the soil. Mechanical failure of any component of this system results in lodging, a permanent and irreversible inability to maintain vertical orientation. Models of anchorage in grass crops identify the compressive strength of roots near the soil surface as key determinant of resistance to lodging. Indeed, studies of disparate grasses report a ring of thickened, sclerenchyma cells surrounding the root cortex, present only at the base of nodal roots. Here, in the investigation of the development and regulation of this agronomically important trait, we show that development of these cells is uncoupled from the maturation of other secondary cell wall-fortified cells, and that cortical sclerenchyma wall thickening is stimulated by mechanical forces transduced from the shoot to the root. We also show that exogenous application of gibberellic acid stimulates thickening of lignified cell types in the root, including cortical sclerenchyma, but is not sufficient to establish sclerenchyma identity in cortex cells. Leveraging the ability to manipulate cortex development via mechanical stimulus, we show that cortical sclerenchyma development alters root mechanical properties and improves resistance to lodging. We describe transcriptome changes associated with cortical sclerenchyma development under both ambient and mechanically stimulated conditions and identify SECONDARY WALL NAC7 as a putative regulator of mechanically responsive cortex cell wall development at the root base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W. McCahill
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Bahman Khahani
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | | | - Logayn T. Abushal
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Greg A. Gregory
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- U.S. Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Leo A. Baumgart
- U.S. Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ronan C. O’Malley
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Samuel P. Hazen
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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5
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Lippold E, Schlüter S, Mueller CW, Höschen C, Harrington G, Kilian R, Gocke MI, Lehndorff E, Mikutta R, Vetterlein D. Correlative Imaging of the Rhizosphere─A Multimethod Workflow for Targeted Mapping of Chemical Gradients. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1538-1549. [PMID: 36626664 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Examining in situ processes in the soil rhizosphere requires spatial information on physical and chemical properties under undisturbed conditions. We developed a correlative imaging workflow for targeted sampling of roots in their three-dimensional (3D) context and assessed the imprint of roots on chemical properties of the root-soil contact zone at micrometer to millimeter scale. Maize (Zea mays) was grown in 15N-labeled soil columns and pulse-labeled with 13CO2 to visualize the spatial distribution of carbon inputs and nitrogen uptake together with the redistribution of other elements. Soil columns were scanned by X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) at low resolution (45 μm) to enable image-guided subsampling of specific root segments. Resin-embedded subsamples were then analyzed by X-ray CT at high resolution (10 μm) for their 3D structure and chemical gradients around roots using micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μXRF), nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), and laser-ablation isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LA-IRMS). Concentration gradients, particularly of calcium and sulfur, with different spatial extents could be identified by μXRF. NanoSIMS and LA-IRMS detected the release of 13C into soil up to a distance of 100 μm from the root surface, whereas 15N accumulated preferentially in the root cells. We conclude that combining targeted sampling of the soil-root system and correlative microscopy opens new avenues for unraveling rhizosphere processes in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Lippold
- Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Steffen Schlüter
- Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Carsten W Mueller
- Department of Life Science Systems, Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carmen Höschen
- Department of Life Science Systems, Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Gertraud Harrington
- Department of Life Science Systems, Soil Science, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Straße 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Kilian
- Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Martina I Gocke
- Soil Science and Soil Ecology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Nussallee 13, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Eva Lehndorff
- Soil Ecology, Bayreuth University, Dr.-Hans-Frisch-Straße 1-3, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Robert Mikutta
- Soil Science and Soil Protection, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Doris Vetterlein
- Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Soil Science and Soil Protection, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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6
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Crown feature effect evaluation on wind load for evergreen species based on laser scanning and wind tunnel experiments. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21475. [PMID: 36509884 PMCID: PMC9744728 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25960-2] [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: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The wind load a tree withstood is mainly applied to its crown, whose morphology and structure directly affect the degree of wind load given a certain wind condition. Though the features of tree crown are relatively easy to measure, however, among them which is/are the determining factor and how they contribute to wind load remain unknown. In order to figure out how crown features of different tree species influence the wind load, the wind tunnel experiment was performed for 7 most used urban greening tree species, and laser scanning was used to measure the accurate crown features. The results derived by multiple linear model showed (1) Ficus concinna, Dracontomelon duperreanum, Ormosia pinnata and Bischofia javanica are recommended in urban greening for suffering the smaller wind load under the same conditions, whereas Schefflera macrostachya, Acacia confusa and Khaya senegalensis are inadequate towards the view of crown features; (2) crown features like crown horizontal ratio, windward side projection and porosity ratio are important in estimating wind load. Our study demonstrated that evaluating the wind load via crown features is feasible, and provided valuable suggestion for selecting idealized decorative trees in urban environment with a smaller wind load due to the crown features.
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7
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Wang H, Hu Y, Qin J, Guo C, Wu D, Xing Q, Pan L, Xia K, Shen Y, Guo J, Jiang R. Interactive responses of root and shoot of camphor tree ( Cinnamomum camphora L.) to asymmetric disturbance treatments. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:993319. [PMID: 36523620 PMCID: PMC9744769 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.993319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant root and shoot growth are closely interrelated, though the connotation of root-shoot balance should not be limited to their connectivity in biomass and physiological indicators. Their directional distribution of mass in architecture and the resulting root-shoot interactions are the keys to understanding the dynamic balance of the below- and above-ground organs related to tree anchorage. This study focuses on the 4-year-old camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora L.) as a system to observe the biomass distribution in response to the asymmetric disturbance treatments of biased root (BRT), inclined trunk (ITT), and half-crown (HCT) in a controlled cultivation experiment using the minirhizotron technique. We found an inverse relationship of biomass distribution of crowns to roots in BRT and opposite asymmetries of roots with crowns in response to the ITT and HCT treatments. We also observed higher net photosynthesis rate (Pn ), water use efficiency, and chlorophyll content in the leaves on the side opposite the lean in ITT, and higher Pn , transpiration rate, and chlorophyll content on the root-bias side in BRT, which is consistent with the nutrient allocation strategies of allocating nutrients across plant organs in an optimal way to obtain 'functional equilibrium' and adapt to the stressed environment. Furthermore, the asymmetrical growth transformation of first-level branch length from the root-bias side to the opposite side in BRT, and a similar transformation of root length from the crown-bias side to the opposite side in HCT, imbues further theoretical support of the nutrient allocation strategy and the biomechanical stability principle, respectively. In summary, this study is the first to identify opposite interaction between below- and above-ground biomass distributions of the camphor tree. The findings enrich the connotation of root-shoot interactions and help to realize root design for the silviculture management of urban forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, Shanghai, China
| | - Yonghong Hu
- Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Qin
- Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenbing Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Duorun Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xing
- Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianlian Pan
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kangsheng Xia
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajun Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ran Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
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8
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Quiros M, Bogeat-Triboulot MB, Couturier E, Kolb E. Plant root growth against a mechanical obstacle: the early growth response of a maize root facing an axial resistance is consistent with the Lockhart model. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY, INTERFACE 2022; 19:20220266. [PMID: 35919977 PMCID: PMC9346360 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Plant root growth is dramatically reduced in compacted soils, affecting the growth of the whole plant. Through a model experiment coupling force and kinematics measurements, we probed the force-growth relationship of a primary root contacting a stiff resisting obstacle, which mimics the strongest soil impedance variation encountered by a growing root. The growth of maize roots just emerging from a corseting agarose gel and contacting a force sensor (acting as an obstacle) was monitored by time-lapse imaging simultaneously to the force. The evolution of the velocity field along the root was obtained from kinematics analysis of the root texture with a particle image velocimetry derived technique. A triangular fit was introduced to retrieve the elemental elongation rate or strain rate. A parameter-free model based on the Lockhart law quantitatively predicts how the force at the obstacle modifies several features of the growth distribution (length of the growth zone, maximal elemental elongation rate and velocity) during the first 10 min. These results suggest a strong similarity of the early growth responses elicited either by a directional stress (contact) or by an isotropic perturbation (hyperosmotic bath).
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Quiros
- PMMH, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Etienne Couturier
- Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université Paris Diderot CNRS UMR 7057, 10 Rue Alice Domont et Léonie Ducquet, 75205 Paris Cedex 13, France
| | - Evelyne Kolb
- PMMH, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
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9
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Higham TE, Schmitz L, Niklas KJ. The evolution of mechanical properties of conifer and angiosperm woods. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:icac103. [PMID: 35762654 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The material properties of the cells and tissues of an organism dictate, to a very large degree, the ability of the organism to cope with mechanical stress induced by externally applied forces. It is, therefore, critical to understand how these properties differ across diverse species and how they have evolved. Herein, a large data base (N = 84 species) for the mechanical properties of wood samples measured at biologically natural moisture contents (i.e., "green wood") was analyzed to determine the extent to which these properties are correlated across phylogenetically diverse tree species, to determine if a phylogenetic pattern of trait values exists, and, if so, to assess whether the rate of trait evolution varies across the phylogeny. The phylogenetic comparative analyses presented here confirm previous results that critical material properties are significantly correlated with one another and with wood density. Although the rates of trait evolution of angiosperms and gymnosperms (i.e., conifers) are similar, the material properties of both clades evolved in distinct selective regimes that are phenotypically manifested in lower values across all material properties in gymnosperms. This observation may be related to the structural differences between gymnosperm and angiosperm wood such as the presence of vessels in angiosperms. Explorations of rate heterogeneity indicate high rates of trait evolution in wood density in clades within both conifers and angiosperms (e.g., Pinus and Shorea). Future analyses are warranted using additional data given these preliminary results, especially because there is ample evidence of convergent evolution in the material properties of conifers and angiosperm wood that appear to experience similar ecological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Lars Schmitz
- W.M. Keck Science Department, 925 N. Mills Avenue, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
| | - Karl J Niklas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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10
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Hostetler AN, Erndwein L, Ganji E, Reneau JW, Killian ML, Sparks EE. Maize brace root mechanics vary by whorl, genotype and reproductive stage. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 129:657-668. [PMID: 35238341 PMCID: PMC9113123 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Root lodging is responsible for significant crop losses worldwide. During root lodging, roots fail by breaking, buckling or pulling out of the ground. In maize, above-ground roots, called brace roots, have been shown to reduce susceptibility to root lodging. However, the underlying structural-functional properties of brace roots that prevent root lodging are poorly defined. In this study, we quantified structural mechanical properties, geometry and bending moduli for brace roots from different whorls, genotypes and reproductive stages. METHODS Using 3-point bend tests, we show that brace root mechanics are variable by whorl, genotype and reproductive stage. KEY RESULTS Generally, we find that within each genotype and reproductive stage, the brace roots from the first whorl (closest to the ground) had higher structural mechanical properties and a lower bending modulus than brace roots from the second whorl. There was additional variation between genotypes and reproductive stages. Specifically, genotypes with higher structural mechanical properties also had a higher bending modulus, and senesced brace roots had lower structural mechanical properties than hydrated brace roots. CONCLUSIONS Collectively these results highlight the importance of considering whorl-of-origin, genotype and reproductive stage for the quantification of brace root mechanics, which is important for mitigating crop loss due to root mechanical failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Hostetler
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Lindsay Erndwein
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Elahe Ganji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jonathan W Reneau
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Megan L Killian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin E Sparks
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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11
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Stubbs CJ, McMahan CS, Tabaracci K, Kunduru B, Sekhon RS, Robertson DJ. Cross-sectional geometry predicts failure location in maize stalks. PLANT METHODS 2022; 18:56. [PMID: 35477510 PMCID: PMC9044803 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-022-00887-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) is a multi-billion dollar a year problem. Stalk lodging occurs when high winds induce bending moments in the stalk which exceed the bending strength of the plant. Previous biomechanical models of plant stalks have investigated the effect of cross-sectional morphology on stalk lodging resistance (e.g., diameter and rind thickness). However, it is unclear if the location of stalk failure along the length of stem is determined by morphological or compositional factors. It is also unclear if the crops are structurally optimized, i.e., if the plants allocate structural biomass to create uniform and minimal bending stresses in the plant tissues. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to investigate the relationship between bending stress and failure location of maize stalks, and (2) to investigate the potential of phenotyping for internode-level bending stresses to assess lodging resistance. RESULTS 868 maize specimens representing 16 maize hybrids were successfully tested in bending to failure. Internode morphology was measured, and bending stresses were calculated. It was found that bending stress is highly and positively associated with failure location. A user-friendly computational tool is presented to help plant breeders in phenotyping for internode-level bending stress. Phenotyping for internode-level bending stresses could potentially be used to breed for more biomechanically optimal stalks that are resistant to stalk lodging. CONCLUSIONS Internode-level bending stress plays a potentially critical role in the structural integrity of plant stems. Equations and tools provided herein enable researchers to account for this phenotype, which has the potential to increase the bending strength of plants without increasing overall structural biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Stubbs
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- School of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, USA
| | - Christopher S McMahan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Kaitlin Tabaracci
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Bharath Kunduru
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Rajandeep S Sekhon
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Daniel J Robertson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
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Krišāns O, Matisons R, Vuguls J, Rust S, Elferts D, Seipulis A, Saleniece R, Jansons Ā. Silver Birch ( Betula pendula Roth.) on Dry Mineral Rather than on Deep Peat Soils Is More Dependent on Frozen Conditions in Terms of Wind Damage in the Eastern Baltic Region. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:1174. [PMID: 35567175 PMCID: PMC9104462 DOI: 10.3390/plants11091174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In Northern Europe, the ongoing winter warming along with increasing precipitation shortens the periods for which soil is frozen, which aggravates the susceptibility of forest stands to wind damage under an increasing frequency of severe wind events via the reduction in soil-root anchorage. Such processes are recognized to be explicit in moist and loose soils, such as deep peat, while stands on dry mineral soils are considered more stable. In the hemiboreal forest zone in the Eastern Baltics, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is an economically important species widespread on mineral and peat soils. Although birch is considered to be less prone to wind loading during dormant periods, wind damage arises under moist and non-frozen soil conditions. Static tree-pulling tests were applied to compare the mechanical stability of silver birch on frozen and non-frozen freely draining mineral and drained deep peat soils. Basal bending moment, stem strength, and soil-root plate volume were used as stability proxies. Under frozen soil conditions, the mechanical stability of silver birch was substantially improved on both soils due to boosted soil-root anchorage and a concomitant increase in stem strength. However, a relative improvement in soil-root anchorage by frozen conditions was estimated on mineral soil, which might be attributed to root distribution. The soil-root plates on the mineral soil were narrower, providing lower leverage, and thus freezing conditions had a higher effect on stability. Accordingly, silver birch on peat soil had an overall higher estimated loading resistance, which suggested its suitability for forest regeneration on loose and moist soils within the Eastern Baltic region. Nevertheless, adaptive forest management supporting individual tree stability is still encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oskars Krišāns
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Roberts Matisons
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Jānis Vuguls
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Steffen Rust
- Faculty of Resource Management, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Büsgenweg 1a, 37077 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - Didzis Elferts
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
- Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, 1 Jelgavas Street, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia
| | - Andris Seipulis
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Renāte Saleniece
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Āris Jansons
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute ‘Silava’, 111 Rigas Street, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia; (O.K.); (R.M.); (J.V.); (D.E.); (A.S.); (R.S.)
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Fu Q, Fu J, Chen Z, Chen C, Zhang J, Ren L. Measurement and Analysis of Root Anchorage Effect on Stalk Forces in Lodged Corn Harvesting. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:852375. [PMID: 35498664 PMCID: PMC9039664 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.852375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The effect of root anchorage on corn stalk is the main cause of difficulties in stalk lifting and ear picking of lodged corn. To quantify the forces on the stalks caused by root anchorage in corn harvesting, a root force measurement system was designed and applied in this study. The bending moment and torsional moment on the upright and lodged corn stalks were measured in corn harvesting with the designed system and the results were compared with the manually measured failure boundaries. The manually measured results showed bending moments to push down the upright stalks, to lift the lodged corn stalks, and to slip the lodged corn stalks were 35.12, 23.33, and 40.36 Nm, respectively, whereas the torsional moments needed to twist off the upright and lodged corn stalks were 4.02 and 3.33 Nm, respectively. The bending moments that the corn header applied to the upright, forward lodged, reverse lodged, and lateral lodged corn stalks were 10.68, 22.24, 16.56, and 20.42 Nm, respectively, whereas the torsional moments on them were 1.32, 1.59, 1.55, and 1.77 Nm, respectively. The bending force was the main factor that broke the root anchorage and influenced the stalk movement of lodged corn in harvesting. By analyzing the bending moment curves on the lodged corn stalks, it was proposed that for the harvesting of corn lodged in the forward, reverse, and lateral direction, the corresponding harvester header improvement suggestions are enlarging the size of pins on the gathering chains, reducing the speed of gathering chains, and lengthening the snouts with a sleeker surface, respectively. This study provides base data for the root anchorage effect on lodged corn and provides references for the improved design of the corn harvester header.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiankun Fu
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Bionics Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jun Fu
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Bionics Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Chen
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Bionics Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jialiang Zhang
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Bionics Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Luquan Ren
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Bionics Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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14
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Mylo MD, Hofmann M, Balle F, Beisel S, Speck T, Speck O. Biomechanics of the parasite-host interaction of the European mistletoe. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:1204-1221. [PMID: 34849736 PMCID: PMC8866656 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The European mistletoe (Viscum album) is an epiphytic hemiparasite that attaches to its host by an endophytic system. Two aspects are essential for its survival: the structural integrity of the host-parasite interface must be maintained during host growth and the functional integrity of the interface must be maintained during ontogeny and under mechanical stress. We investigated the mechanical properties of the mistletoe-host interaction. Intact and sliced mistletoe-host samples, with host wood as reference, were subjected to tensile tests up to failure. We quantified the rough fractured surface by digital microscopy and analysed local surface strains by digital image correlation. Tensile strength and deformation energy were independent of mistletoe age but exhibited markedly lower values than host wood samples. Cracks initiated at sites with a major strain of about 30%, especially along the mistletoe-host interface. The risk of sudden failure was counteracted by various sinkers and a lignification gradient that smooths the differences in the mechanical properties between the two species. Our results improve the understanding of the key mechanical characteristics of the host-mistletoe interface and show that the mechanical connection between the mistletoe and its host is age-independent. Thus, functional and structural integrity is ensured over the lifetime of the mistletoe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max D Mylo
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Mara Hofmann
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frank Balle
- Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering—INATECH, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Beisel
- Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering—INATECH, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olga Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group @ Botanic Garden Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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15
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Niklas KJ, Telewski FW. Environmental-biomechanical reciprocity and the evolution of plant material properties. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:1067-1079. [PMID: 34487177 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Abiotic-biotic interactions have shaped organic evolution since life first began. Abiotic factors influence growth, survival, and reproductive success, whereas biotic responses to abiotic factors have changed the physical environment (and indeed created new environments). This reciprocity is well illustrated by land plants who begin and end their existence in the same location while growing in size over the course of years or even millennia, during which environment factors change over many orders of magnitude. A biomechanical, ecological, and evolutionary perspective reveals that plants are (i) composed of materials (cells and tissues) that function as cellular solids (i.e. materials composed of one or more solid and fluid phases); (ii) that have evolved greater rigidity (as a consequence of chemical and structural changes in their solid phases); (iii) allowing for increases in body size and (iv) permitting acclimation to more physiologically and ecologically diverse and challenging habitats; which (v) have profoundly altered biotic as well as abiotic environmental factors (e.g. the creation of soils, carbon sequestration, and water cycles). A critical component of this evolutionary innovation is the extent to which mechanical perturbations have shaped plant form and function and how form and function have shaped ecological dynamics over the course of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl J Niklas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Frank W Telewski
- Department of Plant Biology, W.J. Beal Botanical Garden, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Unveiling Falling Urban Trees before and during Typhoon Higos (2020): Empirical Case Study of Potential Structural Failure Using Tilt Sensor. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Urban trees in a densely populated environment may pose risks to the public’s safety in terms of the potential danger of injuries and fatalities, loss of property, impacts on traffic, etc. The biological and mechanical features of urban trees may change over time, thereby affecting the stability of the tree structure. This can be a gradual process but can also be drastic, especially after typhoons or heavy rainstorms. Trees may fall at any time with no discernible signs of failure being exhibited or detected. It is always a challenge in urban tree management to develop a preventive alert system to detect the potential failure of hazardous urban trees and hence be able to have an action plan to handle potential tree tilting or tree collapse. Few studies have considered the comparison of tree morphology to the tilt response relative to uprooting failure in urban cities. New methods involving numerical modeling and sensing technologies provide tools for an effective and deeper understanding of the interaction of root-plate movement and windstorm with the application of the tailor-made sensor. In this study, root-plate tilt variations of 889 trees with sensors installed during Typhoon Higos (2020) are investigated, especially the tilting pattern of the two trees that failed in the event. The correlation of tree response during the typhoon among all trees with tilt measurements was also evaluated. The results from two alarm levels developed in the study, i.e., Increasing Trend Alarm and Sudden Increase Alarm indicated that significant root-plate movement to wind response is species-dependent. These systems could help inform decision making to identify the problematic trees in the early stage. Through the use of smart sensors, the data collected by the alert system provides a very useful analysis of the stability of tree structure and tree health in urban tree management.
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17
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A Static Pulling Test Is a Suitable Method for Comparison of the Loading Resistance of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) between Urban and Peri-Urban Forests. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In urbanized areas, wind disturbances can be intensified by anthropogenic stresses under which trees may become hazardous, creating serious threats and damages to nearby targets. Therefore, species with notably lower both wood mechanical properties and compartmentalization, such as pioneers, are considered to have higher wind damage risk if subjected to unfavorable growing conditions. Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), are frequently found in both urban and peri-urban forests in Northeastern and Central parts of Europe, which strengthen the necessity for the evaluation of mechanical stability of such species. Therefore, static pulling tests were performed to compare the mechanical stability of the studied species in both urban and peri-urban forests. The loading resistance of the studied species differed, with birch being more stable than aspen, indicating aspen to be more prone to wind damage. Additionally, the mechanical stability of birch did not differ between trees growing in urban and peri-urban forests, suggesting static pulling tests are a suitable method for comparing trees from completely different growing conditions.
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Oduntan YA, Stubbs CJ, Robertson DJ. High throughput phenotyping of cross-sectional morphology to assess stalk lodging resistance. PLANT METHODS 2022; 18:1. [PMID: 34983578 PMCID: PMC8725315 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-021-00833-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stalk lodging (mechanical failure of plant stems during windstorms) leads to global yield losses in cereal crops estimated to range from 5% to 25% annually. The cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks is a key determinant of stalk lodging resistance. However, previously developed techniques for quantifying cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks are relatively low-throughput, expensive and often require specialized equipment and expertise. There is need for a simple and cost-effective technique to quantify plant traits related to stalk lodging resistance in a high-throughput manner. RESULTS A new phenotyping methodology was developed and applied to a range of plant samples including, maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), wheat (Triticum aestivum), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Arabidopsis (Arabis thaliana). The major diameter, minor diameter, rind thickness and number of vascular bundles were quantified for each of these plant types. Linear correlation analyses demonstrated strong agreement between the newly developed method and more time-consuming manual techniques (R2 > 0.9). In addition, the new method was used to generate several specimen-specific finite element models of plant stalks. All the models compiled without issue and were successfully imported into finite element software for analysis. All the models demonstrated reasonable and stable solutions when subjected to realistic applied loads. CONCLUSIONS A rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly phenotyping methodology was developed to quantify two-dimensional plant cross-sections. The methodology offers reduced sample preparation time and cost as compared to previously developed techniques. The new methodology employs a stereoscope and a semi-automated image processing algorithm. The algorithm can be used to produce specimen-specific, dimensionally accurate computational models (including finite element models) of plant stalks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf A Oduntan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Christopher J Stubbs
- School of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, 07666, USA
| | - Daniel J Robertson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
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19
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The quest for a unified theory on biomechanical palm risk assessment through theoretical analysis and observation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22134. [PMID: 34764404 PMCID: PMC8586254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01679-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Several methodologies related to the biomechanical risk assessment and the uprooting and breaking potential of palms are reviewed and evaluated in this study. Also a simple mathematical model was designed, to simulate the results of critical wind speed predictions for a tall coconut palm by using classic beam theory and Brazier buckling. First, the review presents arguments that assess the applicability of some influential claims and tree and palm risk assessment methods that have been amply marketed in the last 20 years. Then, the analysis goes beyond the classical procedures and theories that have influenced the arboricultural industry and related press so far. And afterwards, rationale behind several postulated ideas are presented, that are hoped to be fruitful in the path towards a new biomechanical theory for the biomechanical risk assessment of palms. The postulated model envisages the palm stem as a viscoelastic and hollow cylinder that is not only prone to buckling, ovalization and kinking, but also fatigue, shear, splitting and crack propagation. This envisaging was also the main reason why simple Brazier buckling formulation was experimentally applied to simulate the breaking risk of a cocostem. This study also enables a better understanding of the wide range of factors that may influence the mechanical behaviour of trees and palms under (wind) loading.
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20
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Taneda H, Ikeda T. Hydraulic architecture with high root-resistance fraction contributes to efficient carbon gain of plants in temperate habitats. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:1932-1945. [PMID: 34658016 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1753] [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: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE The hydraulic architecture in the leaves, stems and roots of plants constrains water transport and carbon gain through stomatal limitation to CO2 absorption. Because roots are the main bottleneck in water transport for a range of plant species, we assessed the ecophysiological mechanism and importance of a high fraction of root hydraulic resistance in woody and herbaceous species. METHODS Biomass partitioning and hydraulic conductance of leaves, stems, and roots of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica, a perennial herb) and Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata, a deciduous tall tree) were measured. Theoretical analyses were used to examine whether the measured hydraulic architecture and biomass partitioning maximized the plant photosynthetic rate (the product of leaf area and photosynthetic rate per leaf area). RESULTS Root hydraulic resistance accounted for 83% and 68% of the total plant resistance for Japanese knotweed and Japanese zelkova, respectively. Comparisons of hydraulic and biomass partitioning revealed that high root-resistance fractions were attributable to low biomass partitioning to root organs rather than high mass-specific root conductance. The measured partitioning of hydraulic resistance closely corresponded to the predicted optimal partitioning, maximizing the plant photosynthetic rate for the two species. The high fraction of root resistance was predicted to be optimal with variations in air humidity and soil water potential. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the hydraulic architecture of plants growing in mesic and fertile habitats not only results in high root resistance due to small biomass partitioning to root organs, but contributes to efficient carbon gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Taneda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takefumi Ikeda
- Department of Forest Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan
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21
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Cornwall J, Stubbs CJ, McMahan CS, Robertson DJ. The Overlooked Biomechanical Role of the Clasping Leaf Sheath in Wheat Stalk Lodging. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:617880. [PMID: 34489984 PMCID: PMC8417718 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.617880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The biomechanical role of the clasping leaf sheath in stalk lodging events has been historically understudied. Results from this study indicate that in some instances the leaf sheath plays an even larger role in reinforcing wheat against stalk lodging than the stem itself. Interestingly, it appears the leaf sheath does not resist bending loads by merely adding more material to the stalk (i.e., increasing the effective diameter). The radial preload of the leaf sheath on the stem, the friction between the sheath and the stem and several other complex biomechanical factors may contribute to increasing the stalk bending strength and stalk flexural rigidity of wheat. Results demonstrated that removal of the leaf sheath induces alternate failure patterns in wheat stalks. In summary the biomechanical role of the leaf sheath is complex and has yet to be fully elucidated. Many future studies are needed to develop high throughput phenotyping methodologies and to determine the genetic underpinnings of the clasping leaf sheath and its relation to stalk lodging resistance. Research in this area is expected to improve the lodging resistance of wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Cornwall
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Christopher J. Stubbs
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Christopher S. McMahan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Daniel J. Robertson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
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Root-Plate Characteristics of Common Aspen in Hemiboreal Forests of Latvia: A Case Study. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f12010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Climate change will cause winds to strengthen and storms to become more frequent in Northern Europe. Windstorms reduce the financial value of forests by bending, breaking, or uprooting trees, and wind-thrown trees cause additional economic losses. The resistance of trees to wind damage depends on tree species, tree- and stand-scale parameters, and root-soil plate characteristics such as root-plate size, weight, and rooting depth. The root-soil plate is a complex structure whose mechanical strength is dependent on root-plate width and depth, as the root system provides root attachment with soil and structural support. In Latvia, the common aspen (Populus tremula L.) root system has been studied to develop a belowground biomass model, because information about root system characteristics in relation to tree wind resistance is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the root-plate dimensions of common aspen stands on fertile mineral soil (luvisol). Study material was collected in the central region of Latvia, where pure mature (41–60 years old) common aspen stands were randomly selected, and dominant trees within the stand were chosen. In total, ten sample trees from ten stands were uprooted. The diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (H) were measured for each sample tree, and their roots were excavated, divided into groups, washed, measured, and weighed. The highest naturally moist biomass values were observed for coarse roots, and fine root biomass was significantly lower compared to other root groups. All root group biomass values had a strong correlation with the tree DBH. The obtained results show that there is a close, negative relationship between the relative distance from the stem and the relative root-plate depth distribution.
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23
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Root-Soil Plate Characteristics of Silver Birch on Wet and Dry Mineral Soils in Latvia. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f12010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Climate change manifests itself as a change in the probability of extreme weather events, and it is projected that windstorms will become more frequent and intense in Northern Europe. Additionally, the frequency and length of warm periods with wet, unfrozen soil in winter will rise in this region. These factors will lead to an increased risk of storm damages in forests. Factors affecting trees’ resistance to wind uprooting have been well quantified for some species but not for a common and economically important tree, the silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the root-soil plate characteristics of silver birch on wet and dry mineral soils in hemiboreal forests. The root-soil plate and aboveground parameters were measured for 56 canopy trees uprooted in destructive, static-pulling experiments. The shape of the root-soil plate corresponds to the elliptic paraboloid. A decreasing yet slightly different trend was observed in root depth distribution with increasing distance from the stem in both soils. The main factors determining root-soil plate volume were width, which was notably larger on wet mineral soils, and tree diameter at breast height. Consequently, the root-soil plate volume was significantly larger for trees growing on wet mineral soils than for trees growing on dry soils, indicating a wind adaptation.
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Wind Resistance of Eastern Baltic Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) Suggests Its Suitability for Periodically Waterlogged Sites. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f12010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Storms and wind damage are the main cause of biomass loss in forests of Northern Europe, as well as they are synergic with the disturbances causing intense water and temperature stress. This highlights the necessity for climate-smart management at landscape level coupling ecological demands of forestry species with their wind resistance. Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), which is highly plastic species, appears to be promising for a wider application under such conditions, as it is believed to tolerate wide range of weather conditions. Though silver birch can be sensitive to water deficit and windthrow, local information on its wind tolerance in sites with different moisture regimes is advantageous. Mechanical stability of 71 mid-aged silver birches (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in seven dry (Hylocomiosa) and five periodically waterlogged (Myrtilloso-sphagnosa) sites with mineral soils in Latvia (hemiboreal lowland conditions) were assessed by the destructive static pulling tests. Site type had a significant, yet intermediate effect on the stability of silver birch. As expected, trees under periodically waterlogged conditions were more prone to collapse under static loading, however, they showed a better resistance to primary failure (beginning of wood structure deformation). Uprooting was the most common form of tree collapse. Surprisingly, considering similar root depths, stem breakage was more frequent in the periodically waterlogged than dry sites (21.9 vs. 5.1%, respectively), indicating high loading resistance of roots, supporting high plasticity and wind resistance of the studied metapopulation of silver birch. Nevertheless, in the periodically waterlogged sites, the difference between forces needed to cause primary and secondary (collapse) failures of stem decreased with age/size, implying necessity for optimization of rotation length. Accordingly, quantification of wind resistance can aid climate-smart selection of species for forest regeneration depending on landscape, suggesting birch as wind resistant option under periodically waterlogged conditions.
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Beier MP, Tsugawa S, Demura T, Fujiwara T. Root shape adaptation to mechanical stress derived from unidirectional vibrations in Populus nigra. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY (TOKYO, JAPAN) 2020; 37:423-428. [PMID: 33850429 PMCID: PMC8034667 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.20.0813a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
While it is known that plant roots can change their shapes to the stress direction, it remains unclear if the root orientation can change as a means for mechanical reinforcement. When stress in form of a unidirectional vibration is applied to cuttings of Populus nigra for 5 min a day over a period of 20 days, the root system architecture changes. The contribution of roots with a diameter larger than 0.04 cm increases, while the allocation to roots smaller than 0.03 cm decreases. In addition to the root diameter allocation, the root orientation in the stem proximity was analyzed by appearance and with a nematic tensor analysis in an attempt to calculate the average root orientation. The significant different allocation to roots with a larger diameter, and the tendency of roots to align in the vicinity of the stress axis (not significantly different), are indicating a mechanical reinforcement to cope with the received strain. This work indicates an adaptive root system architecture and a possible adaptive root orientation for mechanical reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Pascal Beier
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Satoru Tsugawa
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Taku Demura
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Toru Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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Stubbs CJ, McMahan C, Seegmiller W, Cook DD, Robertson DJ. Integrated Puncture Score: force-displacement weighted rind penetration tests improve stalk lodging resistance estimations in maize. PLANT METHODS 2020; 16:113. [PMID: 32821268 PMCID: PMC7429900 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-020-00654-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) is a multi-billion dollar a year problem. Rind penetration resistance tests have been used by plant scientists and breeders to estimate the stalk lodging resistance of maize for nearly a hundred years. However, the rind puncture method has two key limitations: (1) the predictive power of the test decreases significantly when measuring elite or pre-commercial hybrids, and (2) using rind penetration measurements as a breeding metric does not necessarily create stronger stalks. In this study, we present a new rind penetration method called the Integrated Puncture Score, which uses a modified rind penetration testing protocol and a physics-based model to provide a robust measure of stalk lodging resistance. RESULTS Two datasets, one with a diverse array of maize hybrids and one with only elite hybrids, were evaluated by comparing traditional rind penetration testing and the Integrated Puncture Score method to measurements of stalk bending strength. When evaluating the diverse set of hybrids, both methods were good predictors of stalk bending strength (R2 values of 0.67). However, when evaluating elite hybrids, the Integrated Puncture Score had an R2 value of 0.74 whereas the traditional method had an R2 value of 0.48. Additionally, the Integrated Puncture Score was able to differentiate between the strongest and weakest hybrids in the elite hybrid data set whereas the traditional rind penetration method was not. Additional experiments revealed strong evidence in favor of the data aggregation steps utilized to compute the Integrated Puncture Score. CONCLUSIONS This study presents a new method for evaluating rind penetration resistance that highly correlates with stalk bending strength and can possibly be used as a breeding index for assessing stalk lodging resistance. This research lays the foundation required to develop a field-based high-throughput phenotyping device for stalk lodging resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher McMahan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634 USA
| | - Will Seegmiller
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
| | - Douglas D. Cook
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 USA
| | - Daniel J. Robertson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
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Erndwein L, Cook DD, Robertson DJ, Sparks EE. Field-based mechanical phenotyping of cereal crops to assess lodging resistance. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2020; 8:e11382. [PMID: 32995102 PMCID: PMC7507486 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant mechanical failure, also known as lodging, is the cause of significant and unpredictable yield losses in cereal crops. Lodging occurs in two distinct failure modes-stalk lodging and root lodging. Despite the prevalence and detrimental impact of lodging on crop yields, there is little consensus on how to phenotype plants in the field for lodging resistance and thus breed for mechanically resilient plants. This review provides an overview of field-based mechanical testing approaches to assess stalk and root lodging resistance. These approaches are placed in the context of future perspectives. Best practices and recommendations for acquiring field-based mechanical phenotypes of plants are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Erndwein
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute University of Delaware Newark Delaware 19711 USA
| | - Douglas D Cook
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Brigham Young University Provo Utah 84602 USA
| | - Daniel J Robertson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Erin E Sparks
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute University of Delaware Newark Delaware 19711 USA
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28
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Kampowski T, Thiemann LL, Kürner L, Speck T, Poppinga S. Exploring the attachment of the Mediterranean medicinal leech ( Hirudo verbana) to porous substrates. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200300. [PMID: 32673516 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Haematophagous ectoparasites must ensure a reliable hold to their host during blood meals and, therefore, have evolved a broad spectrum of versatile and effective attachment mechanisms. The Mediterranean medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana), for example, uses suction on both smooth and textured air-tight substrates. However, preliminary studies showed that H. verbana is also capable of attaching itself to air-permeable substrates, where suction does not work. Using high-speed videography and mechanical tests, we comparatively investigated the attachment of H. verbana on both smooth and textured air-tight as well as on porous artificial substrates, also considering the influence of mucus on sucker surfaces. In general, the leech-specific locomotion cycle did not differ between the tested surfaces, and the leeches were able to reliably attach to both air-tight and porous substrates. From our results, we conclude that suction is presumably the primary attachment mechanism of H. verbana. However, secondary mechanisms such as mechanical interlocking with surface asperities and pores or capillary forces occurring at the interface between the mucus-covered suckers and the substratum are also employed. In any case, the rich repertoire of applicable attachment principles renders the organs of H. verbana functionally highly resilient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Kampowski
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Lara-Louise Thiemann
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Lukas Kürner
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence livMatS@ FIT - Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Poppinga
- Plant Biomechanics Group (PBG), University of Freiburg, Botanic Garden, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.,Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 21, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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29
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De-Jesús-García R, Rosas U, Dubrovsky JG. The barrier function of plant roots: biological bases for selective uptake and avoidance of soil compounds. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2020; 47:383-397. [PMID: 32213271 DOI: 10.1071/fp19144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The root is the main organ through which water and mineral nutrients enter the plant organism. In addition, root fulfils several other functions. Here, we propose that the root also performs the barrier function, which is essential not only for plant survival but for plant acclimation and adaptation to a constantly changing and heterogeneous soil environment. This function is related to selective uptake and avoidance of some soil compounds at the whole plant level. We review the toolkit of morpho-anatomical, structural, and other components that support this view. The components of the root structure involved in selectivity, permeability or barrier at a cellular, tissue, and organ level and their properties are discussed. In consideration of the arguments supporting barrier function of plant roots, evolutionary aspects of this function are also reviewed. Additionally, natural variation in selective root permeability is discussed which suggests that the barrier function is constantly evolving and is subject of natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramces De-Jesús-García
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenuenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Ulises Rosas
- Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Joseph G Dubrovsky
- Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenuenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico; and Corresponding author.
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Geitmann A, Niklas K, Speck T. Plant biomechanics in the 21st century. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:3435-3438. [PMID: 31335955 PMCID: PMC6650134 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anja Geitmann
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Karl Niklas
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Speck
- Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, Botanic Garden of the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Freiburg, Germany
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