Fruit fracture biomechanics and the release of Lepidium didymum pericarp-imposed mechanical dormancy by fungi
Autor(en): | Sperber, Katja Steinbrecher, Tina Graeber, Kai Scherer, Gwydion Clausing, Simon Wiegand, Nils Hourston, James E. Kurre, Rainer Leubner-Metzger, Gerhard Mummenhoff, Klaus |
Stichwörter: | BRASSICACEAE; CELL-WALL; CLADOSPORIUM-SPHAEROSPERMUM; EVOLUTION; GENES; IMAGE-ANALYSIS; INDEHISCENT FRUITS; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; SEASONAL EMERGENCE; SEED-GERMINATION; SOIL | Erscheinungsdatum: | 2017 | Herausgeber: | NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP | Journal: | NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | Volumen: | 8 | Zusammenfassung: | The biomechanical and ecophysiological properties of plant seed/fruit structures are fundamental to survival in distinct environments. Dispersal of fruits with hard pericarps ( fruit coats) encasing seeds has evolved many times independently within taxa that have seed dispersal as their default strategy. The mechanisms by which the constraint of a hard pericarp determines germination timing in response to the environment are currently unknown. Here, we show that the hard pericarp of Lepidium didymum controls germination solely by a biomechanical mechanism. Mechanical dormancy is conferred by preventing full phase-II water uptake of the encased non-dormant seed. The lignified endocarp has biomechanically and morphologically distinct regions that serve as predetermined breaking zones. This pericarp-imposed mechanical dormancy is released by the activity of common fungi, which weaken these zones by degrading non-lignified pericarp cells. We propose that the hard pericarp with this biomechanical mechanism contributed to the global distribution of this species in distinct environments. |
ISSN: | 20411723 | DOI: | 10.1038/s41467-017-02051-9 |
Zur Langanzeige
Seitenaufrufe
3
Letzte Woche
1
1
Letzter Monat
1
1
geprüft am 13.05.2024