Biomechanics of Plant Growth
Project Description
The sizes and shapes of leaves determine plant growth and function in both natural and agricultural environments. At present we do not understand the what types of strong mechanical forces in plant organs (roots, leaves) simultaneously drive growth and are sensed by cells so they can maintain physical connectivity within and between tissues. It is therefore important to develop new methods to accurately predict invisible forces in plants cells with complex geometries and cell wall properties. It will then be possible to discover how the forces are sensed and how agriculturally important phenotypes can be engineered. The Gilbreth fellow will develop and employ finite element simulations of plant cells in the context of realistic tissues and organs. This will include models for cell adhesion and cell wall tearing. The fellow will be trained in biology. S/he will learn how to strategically use genetic variants, live-cell imaging, and quantitative micro-mechanical manipulations to validate the models and define molecular control pathways. The combined computational and experimental analyses will help to create new fields in the life sciences and provide foundational knowledge that will enable the intentional engineering of crop architectures and transform how genetic resources are developed for food and fiber production.
Start Date
Early 2026
Postdoc Qualifications
PhD in one of solid mechanics, computational mechanics. Image processing. Strong interest in interdisciplinary work.
Co-advisors
- THOMAS SIEGMUND (Mechanical Engineering), https://engineering.purdue.edu/MYMECH
- DANIEL SZYMANSKI (Botany and Plant Pathology), https://www.bio.purdue.edu/People/profile/szymandb.html
Bibliography
- Zhu XG, Long SP, Ort DR. Improving photosynthetic efficiency for greater yield. Annual review of plant biology. 2010 Jun 2;61(1):235-61.
- Belteton SA, Li W, Yanagisawa M, Hatam FA, Quinn MI, Szymanski MK, Marley MW, Turner JA, Szymanski DB. Real-time conversion of tissue-scale mechanical forces into an interdigitated growth pattern. Nature plants. 2021 Jun;7(6):826-41.
- Belteton SA, Sawchuk MG, Donohoe BS, Scarpella E, Szymanski DB. Reassessing the roles of PIN proteins and anticlinal microtubules during pavement cell morphogenesis. Plant Physiology. 2018 Jan 1;176(1):432-49.
- Roe KL, Siegmund T. An irreversible cohesive zone model for interface fatigue crack growth simulation. Engineering fracture mechanics. 2003 Jan 1;70(2):209-32.
- Li W, Siegmund T. An analysis of crack growth in thin-sheet metal via a cohesive zone model. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2002 Dec 1;69(18):2073-93.