When biochemistry meets mechanics: a systems view of growth control in plants

The emergence of complex shapes during the development of plants is under the control of genetically determined molecular networks. Such regulatory networks, comprising hormones and transcription factors, regulate the collective behavior of cell growth within a tissue. Because all the cells within a tissue are linked together by the cell wall, their collective growth generates a good amount of mechanical stress. In the last few years a compelling amount of evidence has shown that growth-generated mechanical stress can feed back on plant developmental programs by modifying cell growth. This involves primarily responses from the microtubules and interaction with auxin transport and signaling. Here we discuss the most recent advances in the understanding of mechanical feedbacks in plant development.