Mechanodetection of neighbor plants elicits adaptive leaf movements through calcium dynamics

Chrysoula K. Pantazopoulou*, Sara Buti, Chi Tam Nguyen, Lisa Oskam, Daan A. Weits, Edward E. Farmer, Kaisa Kajala, Ronald Pierik*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Plants detect their neighbors via various cues, including reflected light and touching of leaf tips, which elicit upward leaf movement (hyponasty). It is currently unknown how touch is sensed and how the signal is transferred from the leaf tip to the petiole base that drives hyponasty. Here, we show that touch-induced hyponasty involves a signal transduction pathway that is distinct from light-mediated hyponasty. We found that mechanostimulation of the leaf tip upon touching causes cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt induction in leaf tip trichomes that spreads towards the petiole. Both perturbation of the calcium response and the absence of trichomes reduce touch-induced hyponasty. Finally, using plant competition assays, we show that touch-induced hyponasty is adaptive in dense stands of Arabidopsis. We thus establish a novel, adaptive mechanism regulating hyponastic leaf movement in response to mechanostimulation by neighbors in dense vegetation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5827
JournalNature Communications
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023

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