Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots

Abstract Mechanical stimulation, including wind exposure, is a common environmental factor for plants and can significantly impact plant phenotype, development, and growth. Most responses to external mechanical stimulation are defined by the term thigmomorphogenesis. While these morphogenetic change...

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Main Authors: Annalene Hansen, Agnieszka Gladala-Kostarz, Rebecca Hindhaugh, John H. Doonan, Maurice Bosch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02157-3
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author Annalene Hansen
Agnieszka Gladala-Kostarz
Rebecca Hindhaugh
John H. Doonan
Maurice Bosch
author_facet Annalene Hansen
Agnieszka Gladala-Kostarz
Rebecca Hindhaugh
John H. Doonan
Maurice Bosch
author_sort Annalene Hansen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Mechanical stimulation, including wind exposure, is a common environmental factor for plants and can significantly impact plant phenotype, development, and growth. Most responses to external mechanical stimulation are defined by the term thigmomorphogenesis. While these morphogenetic changes in growth and development may not be immediately apparent, their end-results can be substantial. Although mostly studied in dicotyledonous plants, recently monocot grasses, particularly cereal crops, have received more attention. This review summarizes current knowledge on mechanical stimulation in plants, particularly focusing on the molecular, physiological, and phenological responses in cereals, and explores practical applications to sustainably improve the resilience of agricultural crops.
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institution DOAJ
issn 1741-7007
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Biology
spelling doaj-art-9c6b61bbc7b743e1b54dcd92961364cc2025-08-20T03:03:23ZengBMCBMC Biology1741-70072025-02-0123111910.1186/s12915-025-02157-3Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocotsAnnalene Hansen0Agnieszka Gladala-Kostarz1Rebecca HindhaughJohn H. Doonan2Maurice Bosch3Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth UniversityDepartment of Biosciences, Durham UniversityInstitute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth UniversityInstitute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth UniversityAbstract Mechanical stimulation, including wind exposure, is a common environmental factor for plants and can significantly impact plant phenotype, development, and growth. Most responses to external mechanical stimulation are defined by the term thigmomorphogenesis. While these morphogenetic changes in growth and development may not be immediately apparent, their end-results can be substantial. Although mostly studied in dicotyledonous plants, recently monocot grasses, particularly cereal crops, have received more attention. This review summarizes current knowledge on mechanical stimulation in plants, particularly focusing on the molecular, physiological, and phenological responses in cereals, and explores practical applications to sustainably improve the resilience of agricultural crops.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02157-3ThigmomorphogenesisCereal crop mechanobiologyGrassesLodging resistanceCrop resilience to mechanical stressCell wall remodelling
spellingShingle Annalene Hansen
Agnieszka Gladala-Kostarz
Rebecca Hindhaugh
John H. Doonan
Maurice Bosch
Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots
BMC Biology
Thigmomorphogenesis
Cereal crop mechanobiology
Grasses
Lodging resistance
Crop resilience to mechanical stress
Cell wall remodelling
title Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots
title_full Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots
title_fullStr Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots
title_short Mechanical stimulation in plants: molecular insights, morphological adaptations, and agricultural applications in monocots
title_sort mechanical stimulation in plants molecular insights morphological adaptations and agricultural applications in monocots
topic Thigmomorphogenesis
Cereal crop mechanobiology
Grasses
Lodging resistance
Crop resilience to mechanical stress
Cell wall remodelling
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-025-02157-3
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