Meeting Abstract
Many plant species exhibit tendrils that, after attaching to a fixed point, coil into a helical structure. The ‘muscle’ of tendrils are gelatinous fibers (g-fibers). G-fibers, also found in reaction wood, have been shown to drive tendril coiling. Although these g-fibers are common in species with coiling tendrils, the coil of tendrils from different species are morphologically distinct (be it through handedness, presence of helical perversions, or other). This study takes a comparative approach to examine two things: (1) the role of gelatinous fibers in driving tendril coiling in independently evolved climbing plants; and (2) the relationship of gelatinous fibers to the mechanical properties of the resulting tendril. We expect that there will be a marked difference between different species’ morphology that can be directly correlated to variations in their movement. In particular, we believe that the pattern of cellulose banding in the gelatinous fiber will have a significant effect on the tendril’s coiling habits and mechanical properties in each species. Knowledge of the coiling structures of tendrils can help further not only a better understanding of plant movement but also a more advanced biomimetic spring that may have real-world applications.
