Mathematics and mechanics of plant morphogenesis
 

We explore mechanistic, mechanical, mathematical models of plant morphogenesis.

Morphogenesis is the process by which organisms develop their form, driven by genetic, chemical, mechanical, and physical factors combined in a so-called complex system. These factors operate across multiple scales and exert varying degrees of nonlocal regulations. To achieve a rational understanding of morphogenesis, dedicated mathematical models are essential. Combining exact, asymptotic and numerical methods, we seek to uncover the guiding principles of plant living matter.

Research projects

 

Hydromechanical field theory of plant morphogenesis

An important problem in mechanical biology is to characterise the behaviour of living matter at the macroscopic scale, using continuum formalisms. To that end, we developed a hydromechanical field theory of plant living matter. This theory is grounded in the fundamental biophysics of cell growth, a hydromechanical process in which cells expand by absorbing water, while their walls expand and remodel under tension. At the continuum level, plant tissue behaves like a poromorphoelastic body — a growing poroelastic medium composed of expanding cells that absorb and exchange water and osmolytes. This integrated, physics-based approach enables us to explain the growth phenomenon in terms of specific biophysical parameters, which are themselves regulated by genetic activity.

Multiscale modelling of plant tropism

To survive and thrive, plants rely on their ability to sense various environmental signals, such as gravity and light, and respond by growing and changing their shape. This response is known as tropism, the directed movement of a plant in response to a stimulus. Tropism is a multiscale process involving sensing, hormonal transport, and growth. Typically, a tropic signal is sensed by the cells, which respond by redistributing growth hormones within the organ (e.g. shoot or root). These hormones then regulate growth, leading to a global change in shape. Using the theory of active filaments, we explore mechanistic, multiscale models to study the dynamics of plant organs in the presence of multiple changing stimuli.

 

Selected publications

H. Oliveri and I. Cheddadi, “Hydromechanical field theory of plant morphogenesis”, arXiv, 2024, in review. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2409.02775

H. Oliveri, D. E. Moulton, H. A. Harrington, and A. Goriely, “Active shape control by plants in dynamic environments,” Phys. Rev. E, vol. 110, no. 1, p. 014 405, Jul. 2024, Editor’s suggestion. DOI: 10.1103 PhysRevE.110.014405

D. E. Moulton, H. Oliveri, A. Goriely, and C. J. Thorogood, “Mechanics reveals the role of peristome geometry in prey capture in carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes),” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 120, no. 38,  e2306268120, Sep. 2023, featured on cover and issue’s highlights. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306268120

D. E. Moulton, H. Oliveri, and A. Goriely, “Multiscale integration of environmental stimuli in plant tropism produces complex behaviors,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 117, no. 51, pp. 32 226–32 237, Dec. 2020. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016025117

H. Oliveri, K. Franze, and A. Goriely, “Theory for Durotactic Axon Guidance,” Physical Review Letters, vol. 126, no. 11, p. 118 101, Mar. 2021, Editor’s suggestion. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.118101.

F. Zhao, F. Du, H. Oliveri, et al., “Microtubule-mediated wall anisotropy contributes to leaf blade flattening,” Current Biology, vol. 30, no. 20, pp. 3972–3985, Sep. 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.076.

H. Oliveri, J. Traas, C. Godin, and O. Ali, “Regulation of plant cell wall stiffness by mechanical stress: A mesoscale physical model,” Journal of mathematical biology, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 625–653, 2018. DOI: 10.1007/s00285-018-1286-y.