Plant puzzle cell shape is an adaptation to a developmental constraint based on mechanical stress and isotropic growth
The puzzle-shaped cells that appear in the epidermis of many plants are a striking example of a complex cell shape. Since shape in an organism is often thought to be closely related to its function, it suggests that these unusual shapes must have some functional benefit to the plant. We propose that the creation of these complex shapes is an effective
strategy to reduce mechanical stress in the cell wall. Although the formation of these shapes requires highly anisotropic and non-uniform
growth at the sub-cellular level, it appears to be triggered by isotropic growth at the organ level. Analysis of cell shape over
multiple species is consistent with the idea that the puzzle is in response to a developmental constraint, and that the mechanism is like
to be conserved among higher plants.
Date:
27 November 2020, 14:00 (Friday, 7th week, Michaelmas 2020)
Venue:
Mathematical Institute, Woodstock Road OX2 6GG
Speaker:
Dr Richard Smith (John Innes Centre)
Organising department:
Mathematical Institute
Organiser:
Sara Jolliffe (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
sara.jolliffe@maths.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Philip Maini (University of Oxford)
Part of:
Mathematical Biology and Ecology
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Sara Jolliffe
