Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking
Abstract Background Plant growth and morphogenesis is a mechanical process controlled by genetic and molecular networks. Measuring mechanical properties at various scales is necessary to understand how these processes interact. However, obtaining a device to perform the measurements on plant samples...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02216-9 |
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| author | Nicola Trozzi Wiktoria Wodniok Robert Kelly-Bellow Andrea Meraviglia Aurore Chételat Nova Adkins Brendan Lane Richard S. Smith Dorota Kwiatkowska Mateusz Majda |
| author_facet | Nicola Trozzi Wiktoria Wodniok Robert Kelly-Bellow Andrea Meraviglia Aurore Chételat Nova Adkins Brendan Lane Richard S. Smith Dorota Kwiatkowska Mateusz Majda |
| author_sort | Nicola Trozzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Plant growth and morphogenesis is a mechanical process controlled by genetic and molecular networks. Measuring mechanical properties at various scales is necessary to understand how these processes interact. However, obtaining a device to perform the measurements on plant samples of choice poses technical challenges and is often limited by high cost and availability of specialized components, the adequacy of which needs to be verified. Developing software to control and integrate the different pieces of equipment can be a complex task. Results To overcome these challenges, we have developed a computer automated micro-extensometer combined with low-cost optical tracking (Camelot) that facilitates measurements of elasticity, creep, and yield stress. It consists of three primary components: a force sensor with a sample attachment point, an actuator with a second attachment point, and a camera. To monitor force, we use a parallel beam sensor, commonly used in digital weighing scales. To stretch the sample, we use a stepper motor with a screw mechanism moving a stage along linear rail. To monitor sample deformation, a compact digital microscope or a microscope camera is used. The system is controlled by MorphoRobotX, an integrated open-source software environment for mechanical experimentation. We first tested the basic Camelot setup, equipped with a digital microscope to track landmarks on the sample surface. We demonstrate that the system has sufficient accuracy to measure the stiffness in delicate plant samples, the etiolated hypocotyls of Arabidopsis, and were able to measure stiffness differences between wild type and a xyloglucan-deficient mutant. Next, we placed Camelot on an inverted microscope and used a C-mount microscope camera to track displacement of cell junctions. We stretched onion epidermal peels in longitudinal and transverse directions and obtained results similar to those previously published. Finally, we used the setup coupled with an upright confocal microscope and measured anisotropic deformation of individual epidermal cells during stretching of an Arabidopsis leaf. Conclusions The portability and suitability of Camelot for high-resolution optical tracking under a microscope make it an ideal tool for researchers in resource-limited settings or those pursuing exploratory biomechanics work. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01e72bf087ca464781847aeac7fe457f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1741-7007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-01e72bf087ca464781847aeac7fe457f2025-08-20T02:11:23ZengBMCBMC Biology1741-70072025-04-0123111910.1186/s12915-025-02216-9Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical trackingNicola Trozzi0Wiktoria Wodniok1Robert Kelly-Bellow2Andrea Meraviglia3Aurore Chételat4Nova Adkins5Brendan Lane6Richard S. Smith7Dorota Kwiatkowska8Mateusz Majda9Department of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes CentreInstitute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of SilesiaDepartment of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes CentreDepartment of Plant Molecular Biology, University of LausanneDepartment of Plant Molecular Biology, University of LausanneDepartment of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes CentreDepartment of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes CentreDepartment of Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes CentreInstitute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of SilesiaDepartment of Plant Molecular Biology, University of LausanneAbstract Background Plant growth and morphogenesis is a mechanical process controlled by genetic and molecular networks. Measuring mechanical properties at various scales is necessary to understand how these processes interact. However, obtaining a device to perform the measurements on plant samples of choice poses technical challenges and is often limited by high cost and availability of specialized components, the adequacy of which needs to be verified. Developing software to control and integrate the different pieces of equipment can be a complex task. Results To overcome these challenges, we have developed a computer automated micro-extensometer combined with low-cost optical tracking (Camelot) that facilitates measurements of elasticity, creep, and yield stress. It consists of three primary components: a force sensor with a sample attachment point, an actuator with a second attachment point, and a camera. To monitor force, we use a parallel beam sensor, commonly used in digital weighing scales. To stretch the sample, we use a stepper motor with a screw mechanism moving a stage along linear rail. To monitor sample deformation, a compact digital microscope or a microscope camera is used. The system is controlled by MorphoRobotX, an integrated open-source software environment for mechanical experimentation. We first tested the basic Camelot setup, equipped with a digital microscope to track landmarks on the sample surface. We demonstrate that the system has sufficient accuracy to measure the stiffness in delicate plant samples, the etiolated hypocotyls of Arabidopsis, and were able to measure stiffness differences between wild type and a xyloglucan-deficient mutant. Next, we placed Camelot on an inverted microscope and used a C-mount microscope camera to track displacement of cell junctions. We stretched onion epidermal peels in longitudinal and transverse directions and obtained results similar to those previously published. Finally, we used the setup coupled with an upright confocal microscope and measured anisotropic deformation of individual epidermal cells during stretching of an Arabidopsis leaf. Conclusions The portability and suitability of Camelot for high-resolution optical tracking under a microscope make it an ideal tool for researchers in resource-limited settings or those pursuing exploratory biomechanics work.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02216-9Micro-extensometerPlant biomechanicsArabidopsisCell wall mechanicsTissue stiffnessOptical tracking |
| spellingShingle | Nicola Trozzi Wiktoria Wodniok Robert Kelly-Bellow Andrea Meraviglia Aurore Chételat Nova Adkins Brendan Lane Richard S. Smith Dorota Kwiatkowska Mateusz Majda Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking BMC Biology Micro-extensometer Plant biomechanics Arabidopsis Cell wall mechanics Tissue stiffness Optical tracking |
| title | Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking |
| title_full | Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking |
| title_fullStr | Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking |
| title_full_unstemmed | Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking |
| title_short | Camelot: a computer-automated micro-extensometer with low-cost optical tracking |
| title_sort | camelot a computer automated micro extensometer with low cost optical tracking |
| topic | Micro-extensometer Plant biomechanics Arabidopsis Cell wall mechanics Tissue stiffness Optical tracking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02216-9 |
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