Thigmomorphogenesis: changes in the morphology and mechanical properties of two Populus hybrids in response to mechanical perturbation

Abstract
To identify hybrid-specific differences in developmental response to mechanical perturbation (MP), we compared the effects of stem flexure on several morphological and mechanical properties of two Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray × P. deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. hybrids, 47-174 and 11-11. In response to the MP treatment, both hybrids exhibited a significant increase in radial growth, especially in the direction of the MP (47-174, P = 0.0001; 11-11, P = 0.002), and a significant decrease in height to diameter growth ratio (P = 0.0001 for both hybrids), suggesting that MP-treated stems are more tapered than control stems. A direct consequence of the MP-induced increase in radial growth was a significant increase in flexural rigidity (EI, N mm2) in stems of both hybrids (47-174, P = 0.0001; 11-11, P = 0.009).

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