Can mechanics control pattern formation in plants?
Development of the plant body entails many pattern forming events at scales ranging from the cellular level to the whole plant. Recent evidence suggests that mechanical forces play a role in establishing some of these patterns. The development of cellular configurations in glandular trichomes and the rippling of leaf surfaces are discussed in depth to illustrate how intricate patterns can emerge from simple and well-established molecular and cellular processes. The ability of plants to sense and transduce mechanical signals suggests that complex interactions between mechanics and chemistry are possible during plant development. The inclusion of mechanics alongside traditional molecular controls offers a more comprehensive view of developmental processes.
Dumais
Jacques
J
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, The Biological Laboratories, 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. jdumais@oeb.harvard.edu
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019521:Body Patterning; D063245:Plant Development; D013500:Surface Tension