Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 51, No. 352, pp. 1813-1824,
November 1, 2000
© 2000 Oxford University Press
Original Papers |
Biomechanical study of the effect of a controlled bending on tomato stem elongation: global mechanical analysis
1 INRA, Unité associée Bioclimatologie-PIAF, 234 avenue du Brézet, 63039 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 2, France
2 INRA, station d'Ecophysiologie des Plantes Fourragères, Les Verrines, 86600 Lusignan, France
3 Unité associée Bioclimatologie-PIAF, Université Blaise Pascal, Les Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière, France
4 Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Horticulture, 8 rue Le Nôtre, 49000 Angers, France
5 Laboratoire d'énergétique et phénomènes de transfert, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers, Esplanade des Arts et Métiers, 33405 Talence cedex, France
An experiment was designed to apply a controlled bending to a tomato stem and simultaneously to measure its effect on stem elongation. Stem elongation was measured over 2 d until steady and equal rates were obtained for the control and the treated plants. Thereafter, the basal part of the stem was submitted to a transient controlled bending at constant displacement rate using a motorized dynamometer. After load removal, stem elongation was again measured for 2 d. The tested plants were mature (height visible internodes) and only the basal part of the stem, which had already finished elongation, was loaded (hypocotyl and the first three internodes). A few minutes after the application of bending, elongation stopped completely for 60 min. Thereafter it took 120–1000 min to recover a rate of elongation similar to the control. The growth response was exclusively due to the bending of the basal part of the stem. It was shown that the side mechanical perturbations on the roots and on the stem tissues interacting directly with the clamp were not significantly involved on the elongation response. These results give evidence for mechanical perception and plant signalling from the basal stem to the upper elongating zone. However, none of the variables characterizing the global mechanical state of the bent part of the stem (i.e. the maximal force, bending moment, inclination, mean curvature of the stem, stored mechanical energy) could quantitatively explain the variability of the growth response. A more local mechanical analysis is therefore needed to elucidate how the mechanical stimulus is perceived.
Key words: Bending, biomechanics, growth, thigmomorphogenesis, tomato.
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