Trees use a 'muscle' to correct their posture—a newly discovered role for tension wood
A research team from INRAE and the University Clermont Auvergne has shown that trees are capable of correcting a curvature they detect in their stems through a specific biological process. In the study, young trees with bent stems were placed in an experimental set-up that prevented them from sensing their orientation relative to light and gravity. The only sense remaining to the trees was the…
A team of researchers from INRAE and the University Clermont Auvergne has discovered that trees can correct their posture through a biological process involving tension wood, a newly identified role for this wood type. In an experiment, young trees with bent stems were placed in a setup that removed their ability to sense their orientation relative to light and gravity, leaving them with only the perception of their own curvature.
Under these conditions, tension wood formed, acting like a muscle to realign the stem. This ability to perceive one's own shape and adjust posture, known as proprioception, was previously thought to be unique to animals. However, a 2012 study showed that plants also possess this ability, enabling them to control their posture and remain straight.
To investigate proprioception on its own, researchers removed other sensory inputs such as gravity and light direction. When tension wood formed on the upper side of the stem, causing it to bend upward, it ceased when the experimental device was activated, while similar wood formed on the opposite side, functioning as an antagonistic muscle.
This study reveals that plants integrate environmental cues with awareness of their own shape to maintain an upright posture, contributing to their resilience against extreme events like storms or landslides.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
