Plant Morphogenesis: A Role for Mechanical Signals
The current paradigm for plant morphogenesis dictates that cortical microtubules serve as a template for the assembly of the cellulosic wall which, in turn, controls cell expansion. A new study provides direct evidence that tissue-level tension can serve as a mechanical signal to align cortical microtubules, thus establishing a critical feedback mechanism for the morphogenetic process.
We provide an overview of the background and recent developments in the study of the morphology evolution of thin film growth. In particular, complex non-local growth effects, including the shadowing effect and the re-emission effect, have been recently shown to significantly alter an evolving growth front. The physical principles behind these non-local effects are discussed, along with techniques used by researchers in the field to model such growth.