Thigmomorphogenesis

<p>Thigmomorphogenesis (from <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek/LIK7NlUh">Ancient Greek</a> θιγγάνω (thingánō) to touch, μορφή (<i>morphê</i>) shape, and γένεσις (génesis) creation) the phenomenon by which plants alter their growth and development in response to mechanical stimuli, exemplifies their remarkable adaptability to fluctuating environmental conditions. From subtle forces such as wind or rain to deliberate touch, these stimuli trigger a cascade of cellular and molecular responses, shaping plant architecture to optimize survival and ecological fitness. Botanists first observed these changes when greenhouse-grown plants were found to be taller and more slender compared to stockier plants grown outdoors, where they were exposed to natural mechanical stresses. At its core, thigmomorphogenesis involves the perception of mechanical forces by cellular mechanosensors, their transduction into biochemical signals, and subsequent changes in gene expression and hormone activity. This response integrates diverse molecular players, including mechanosensitive ion channels, receptor-like kinases, cytoskeletal elements, phytohormones, and transcription factors, which collectively drive both immediate and long-term morphological adaptations.
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Thigmomorphogenesis open-in-new

Thigmomorphogenesis