Venus flytrap biomechanics: Forces in the Dionaea muscipula trap

Volkov, Alexander G.; Harris, Shawn L.; Vilfranc, Chrystelle L.; Murphy, Veronica; Wooten, Joseph D.; Paulicin, Henoc; Volkova, Maia I.; Markin, Vladislav S.

doi:10.1016/j.jplph.2012.08.009

Cited by 24 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Therefore, we could largely confirm similar experiments where a piezoelectric sensor film was used instead of a load cell, and which provided average values for the closing force between 140 and 150 mN. 19 However, the force was measured at the end of the snapping whereas we measured it at the beginning, which is the force needed to restrain an insect until the trap is fully closed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

The mechanical basis for snapping of the Venus flytrap, Darwin’s ‘most wonderful plant in the world’

Burri

Saikia

Läubli

et al. 2019

Preprint

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The carnivorous Venus flytrap catches prey by an ingenious snapping mechanism. Based on work over the past 190 years, it has become generally accepted that two touches of the trap's sensory hairs within 30 seconds, each one generating an action potential, are required to trigger closure of the trap. We developed an electromechanical model which, however, suggests that under certain circumstances one touch is sufficient to generate two action potentials. Using a force-sensing microrobotics system, we precisely quantified the sensory hair deflection parameters necessary to trigger trap closure, and correlated them with the elicited action potentials in vivo. Our results confirm the model's predictions, suggesting that the Venus flytrap may be adapted to a wider range of prey movement than previously assumed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

The mechanical basis for snapping of the Venus flytrap, Darwin’s ‘most wonderful plant in the world’

Burri

Saikia

Läubli

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…This results in further closure and tightening the trap to a tightly appressed state called the narrowed phase. The force increases in the narrowed phase from zero to 450 mN with maximal constriction pressure created by the trap lobes reaching to 9 kPa [14]. Secretion of digestive fluid also appears to be triggered by APs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Abundance of Cysteine Endopeptidase Dionain in Digestive Fluid of Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) Is Regulated by Different Stimuli from Prey through Jasmonates

et al. 2014

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The trap of the carnivorous plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) catches prey by very rapid closure of its modified leaves. After the rapid closure secures the prey, repeated mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs by struggling prey and the generation of action potentials (APs) result in secretion of digestive fluid. Once the prey's movement stops, the secretion is maintained by chemical stimuli released from digested prey. We investigated the effect of mechanical and chemical stimulation (NH4Cl, KH2PO4, further N(Cl) and P(K) stimulation) on enzyme activities in digestive fluid. Activities of β-D-glucosidases and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidases were not detected. Acid phosphatase activity was higher in N(Cl) stimulated traps while proteolytic activity was higher in both chemically induced traps in comparison to mechanical stimulation. This is in accordance with higher abundance of recently described enzyme cysteine endopeptidase dionain in digestive fluid of chemically induced traps. Mechanical stimulation induced high levels of cis-12-oxophytodienoic acid (cis-OPDA) but jasmonic acid (JA) and its isoleucine conjugate (JA-Ile) accumulated to higher level after chemical stimulation. The concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) did not change significantly. The external application of JA bypassed the mechanical and chemical stimulation and induced a high abundance of dionain and proteolytic activity in digestive fluid. These results document the role of jasmonates in regulation of proteolytic activity in response to different stimuli from captured prey. The double trigger mechanism in protein digestion is proposed.

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“…Mathematically the closed state ceases to exist for further changes to the perpendicular curvature and the system moves into a state in which the lobes change their parallel curvature and bulge outwards, Figure 4. Using high-speed imaging with stereoscopic reconstruction, Forterre et al (Forterre et al, 2005) Alternative models have been proposed (Volkov et al, 2007(Volkov et al, , 2013Markin et al, 2008) that do not rely on snap buckling.…”

Section: Force-velocity Trade-offs and Snap-bucklingmentioning

confidence: 99%

How water flow, geometry, and material properties drive plant movements

Morris

Blyth

2019

Journal of Experimental Botany

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Plants are dynamic. They adjust their shape for feeding, defence, and reproduction. Such plant movements are critical for their survival. We present selected examples covering a range of movements from single cell to tissue level and over a range of time scales. We focus on reversible turgor-driven shape changes. Recent insights into the mechanisms of stomata, bladderwort, the waterwheel, and the Venus flytrap are presented. The underlying physical principles (turgor, osmosis, membrane permeability, wall stress, snap buckling, and elastic instability) are highlighted, and advances in our understanding of these processes are summarized.

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Venus flytrap biomechanics: Forces in the Dionaea muscipula trap

Cited by 24 publications

References 23 publications

The mechanical basis for snapping of the Venus flytrap, Darwin’s ‘most wonderful plant in the world’

The mechanical basis for snapping of the Venus flytrap, Darwin’s ‘most wonderful plant in the world’

Abundance of Cysteine Endopeptidase Dionain in Digestive Fluid of Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) Is Regulated by Different Stimuli from Prey through Jasmonates

How water flow, geometry, and material properties drive plant movements

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