The dispersal unit of wild wheat bears two pronounced awns that balance the as it falls. We discovered are also able to propel seeds on and into ground. arrangement cellulose fibrils causes bending with changes in humidity. Silicified hairs cover allow propulsion only direction seeds. This suggests dead tissue is analogous a motor. Fueled by daily humidity cycle, induce motility required for seed dispersal.

Silicate minerals are dominant soil components. Thus, plant roots constantly exposed to silicic acid. High silicon intake, enabled by root transporters, correlates with increased tolerance many biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the underlying protection mechanisms largely unknown. Here, we tested hypothesis that interacts hormones, specifically, acid intake increases cytokinin biosynthesis. The reaction of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Arabidopsis plants, modified absorb high versus low...

Summary Grasses take up silicic acid from soil and deposit it in their leaves as solid silica. This mineral, comprising 1–10% of the grass dry weight, improves plants' tolerance to various stresses. The mechanisms promoting stress are mostly unknown, even mineralization process is poorly understood. To study leaf sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), we followed silica deposition epidermal cells by situ charring air‐scanning electron microscopy. Our findings were correlated viability tested...

Abstract Differentiation of the maternally derived seed coat epidermal cells into mucilage secretory is a common adaptation in angiosperms. Recent studies identified cellulose as an important component various species. Cellulose deposited set rays that radiate from upon extrusion, serving to anchor pectic surface. Using transcriptome data encompassing course development, we COBRA-LIKE2 (COBL2), member glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored COBRA-LIKE gene family Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis...

The secondary plant cell wall is a composite of cellulose and water-swelling matrix containing hemicelluloses lignin. Recent experiments showed that this swelling capacity helps generating growth stresses, e.g., in conifer branches or the stem when subjected to side loads. A similar mechanism also provides motility wheat seeds. Here we study simple mechanical model for which--in contrast earlier models--considers extensible fibrils an isotropically matrix. Depending on detailed architecture...

The sessile nature of plants demands the development seed-dispersal mechanisms to establish new growing loci. Dispersal strategies many species involve drying dispersal unit, which induces directed contraction and movement based on changing environmental humidity. majority researched hygroscopic are a bilayered structure. Here, we investigate motility stork's bill ( Erodium ) seeds that relies tightening loosening helical awn propel itself across surface into safe germination place. We show...

Coherent plant growth requires spatial integration of hormonal pathways and cell wall remodeling activities. However, the mechanisms governing sensitivity to hormones how structure integrates with effects are poorly understood. We found that coordination between two types epidermal root cells, hair nonhair establishes brassinosteroids (BRs). While expression BR receptor BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) in cells promotes elongation all tissues, its high relative is inhibitory. Elevated...

Summary The family Geraniaceae is characterized by a beak‐like fruit, consisting of five seeds appended tapering awn. awns exhibit coiling or bending hygroscopic movement as part the seed dispersal strategy. Here we explain variation in reaction based on structural principles. We examined representative species from three genera: Erodium , Geranium and Pelargonium . Using X‐ray diffraction, electron polarized light microscopy, measured cellulose microfibril angles relation to cell helix...

Background and Aims Deposition of silica in plant cell walls improves their mechanical properties helps plants to withstand various stress conditions. Its mechanism is still not understood silica–cell wall interactions are elusive. The objective this study was investigate the effect deposition on development structure sorghum root endodermis identify components involved silicification. MethodsSorghum bicolor seedlings were grown hydroponically with (Si+) or without (Si−) silicon...

Silicon is absorbed by plant roots as silicic acid. The acid moves with the transpiration stream to shoot, and mineralizes silica. In grasses, leaf epidermal cells called silica deposit in most of their volume using an unknown biological factor. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified a previously uncharacterized protein Sorghum bicolor, which named Siliplant1 (Slp1). Slp1 basic seven repeat units rich proline, lysine, glutamic We found RNA sorghum immature inflorescence. leaves,...

We present a limiting model for thin non-Euclidean elastic rods. Originating from the three-dimensional (3D) reference metric of rod, which is determined by its internal material structure, we derive 1D reduced rod theory. Specifically, show how spontaneous twist and curvature emerge derivatives. Thus, allows calculating unconstrained equilibrium configuration directly structure. The applied to study cells members Geraniaceae plant family their configurational response dehydration....

Summary The cell walls constitute the mechanical support of plants. Crystalline cellulose building forms rigid microfibrils that set stiffness and direction in which it expands during growth. Therefore, determination directions is important both developmental assays. We adapted polarized light microscopy to estimate microfibril orientations at subcellular resolution. optical information supplements X ‐ray scattering data, R aman microspectroscopy, electron microscopy. analyzed samples from...

Summary Silica cells are specialized epidermal found on both surfaces of grass leaves, with almost the entire lumen filled solid silica. The mechanism precipitating silicic acid into silica is not known. Here we investigate this process in sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) leaves. Using fluorescent confocal microscopy, followed cells’ ontogeny, aiming to understand fate vacuoles and nuclei. Correlating scanning electron timed initiation deposition relation cell's viability. Contrary earlier...

Awns are long, stiff filamentous extensions of glumes in many grasses. In wheat, awns contribute up to 40% the grain's photosynthetic assimilates, and assist seed dispersal. accumulate silica epidermal hairs papillae, has been positively associated with yield environmental stress tolerance. Here, a set domesticated wheat genotypes their direct progenitor, Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides were characterized. addition, concentration was genetically dissected tetraploid population recombinant...

Abstract Silica deposition in plants is a common phenomenon that correlates with plant tolerance to various stresses. Deposition occurs mostly cell walls, but its mechanism unclear. Here we show metabolic processes control the formation of silica aggregates roots sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), model for silicification. was followed intact and root segments seedlings. Root were treated enhance or suppress wall biosynthesis. The composition endodermal walls analysed by Raman microspectroscopy,...