Song Kahye, Yeom Eunseop, Lee Sang Joon
School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Korea.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology(POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 790-784, Korea.
Sci Rep. 2014 Sep 25;4:6466. doi: 10.1038/srep06466.
Mimosa pudica is a plant that rapidly shrinks its body in response to external stimuli. M. pudica does not perform merely simple movements, but exhibits a variety of movements that quickly change depending on the type of stimuli. Previous studies have investigated the motile mechanism of the plants from a biochemical perspective. However, an interdisciplinary study on the structural characteristics of M. pudica should be accompanied by biophysical research to explain the principles underlying such movements. In this study, the structural characteristics and seismonastic reactions of M. pudica were experimentally investigated using advanced bio-imaging techniques. The results show that the key factors for the flexible movements by the pulvinus are the following: bendable xylem bundle, expandable/shrinkable epidermis, tiny wrinkles for surface modification, and a xylem vessel network for efficient water transport. This study provides new insight for better understanding the M. pudica motile mechanism through structural modification.
含羞草是一种会对外界刺激迅速收缩身体的植物。含羞草并非仅进行简单的运动，而是展现出多种会根据刺激类型迅速变化的运动。以往的研究从生化角度探究了植物的运动机制。然而，对含羞草结构特征的跨学科研究应辅以生物物理研究，以解释此类运动背后的原理。在本研究中，利用先进的生物成像技术对含羞草的结构特征和感震反应进行了实验研究。结果表明，叶枕实现灵活运动的关键因素如下：可弯曲的木质部束、可扩张/收缩的表皮、用于表面修饰的微小褶皱以及用于高效水分运输的木质部导管网络。本研究为通过结构修饰更好地理解含羞草的运动机制提供了新的见解。
