Active shape control by plants in dynamic environments

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Hadrien Oliveri - , University of Oxford, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Center for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Derek E. Moulton - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Heather A. Harrington - , University of Oxford, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Center for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Alain Goriely - , University of Oxford (Author)

Abstract

Plants are a paradigm for active shape control in response to stimuli. For instance, it is well known that a tilted plant will eventually straighten vertically, demonstrating the influence of both an external stimulus, gravity, and an internal stimulus, proprioception. These effects can be modulated when a potted plant is additionally rotated along the plant's axis, as in a rotating clinostat, leading to intricate shapes. We use a previously derived rod model to study the response of a growing plant and the joint effects of both stimuli at all rotation speeds. In the absence of rotation, we identify a universal planar shape towards which all shoots eventually converge. With rotation, we demonstrate the existence of a stable family of three-dimensional dynamic equilibria where the plant axis is fixed in space. Further, the effect of axial growth is to induce steady behaviors, such as solitary waves. Overall, this study offers insight into the complex out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a plant in three dimensions and further establishes that internal stimuli in active materials are key for robust shape control.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number014405
JournalPhysical Review E
Volume110
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 39160906