Bio-chemo-electro-mechanical modelling of the rapid movement of Mimosa pudica

Multiscale structural anisotropy in pulvinus motor organs of the sensitive plant Mimosa pudica

“…The silicone physical models demonstrate the potential for circumferential reinforcements to influence the energetic cost of hydraulic bending. Bulk movement of fluid within pulvini is ultimately driven by osmotic and hydrostatic pressure gradients generated through active transport of ions and other osmolites against their concentration gradients (Scorza and Dornelas, 2011; Wang and Li, 2020). Forming and maintaining these gradients is an energy intensive process powered by hydrolyzation of ATP to ADP (Fromm and Eschrich, 1988a) and incurs a physiologically relevant metabolic cost.…”

“…While multiple theoretical models of pulvinus physiology provide insight into the biochemical mechanisms underlying hydraulic bending (e.g. Kagawa and Saito, 2000; Morillon et al, 2001; Kwan et al, 2013; Wang and Li, 2020), important functional properties crucial to a holistic understanding of plant motor biomechanics often emerge at higher levels of organization, influenced by the geometry and material properties of whole plant organs (Forterre et al, 2005, Song et al, 2014). In pulvini, polarized light microscopy suggests that the walls of hydraulic parenchyma cells are reinforced by cellulose microfibrils that selectively restrict radial cell expansion (Mayer et al, 1985).…”

“…While multiple theoretical models of pulvinus physiology provide insight into the biochemical mechanisms that power active movement of fluid between parenchyma cell groups (e.g. Kagawa and Saito, 2000;Morillon et al, 2001;Kwan et al, 2013;Wang and Li, 2020), relatively little is known regarding the mechanisms by which volumetric changes at the cellular level are translated into physiologically useful motion at the organ scale. Multiple morphological features have been identified which have the potential to bridge this gap.…”

Spontaneous rapid leaf movements and action potentials in Mimosa pudica L.

“…The internal source of slow growth‐dependent movements named nutations is commonly recognized but rarely investigated unlike stimulus‐induced relatively faster nasties and tropisms. Until now, the fast motions in M. pudica have been reported with the well‐described touch, wounding, or light response (Kanzawa et al 2006; Volkov et al 2010a, 2010b; Kurenda et al 2019; Wang & Li 2020). In the present study, RLMs occurring spontaneously, without an external stimulus is shown and characterized for the first time (Figures 1, 2, Videos S1, S2, and Table S1).…”

“…M. pudica is also used in learning, memory, and behavioral phenomena studies as a highly mechanosensitive plant (Abramson & Chicas‐Mosier 2016). Its mechanism of fast motions is an inspiration for plant‐mimetic engineering to build advanced mechanosensitive materials and technologies (Huynh & Haick 2019) and in bio‐chemo‐electro‐mechanical modeling studies (Wang & Li 2020).…”