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Updated: Sep 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Non-Contact Measurement of Tissue Mechanics in Live Chick Embryos Using Brillouin Microscopy
Published on: November 10, 2023
From stress to growth: Mechanical tissue interactions in developing organs
Benjamin P Lapointe1, Neha Sharma Kaur1, Anne-Lise Routier-Kierzkowska1
1Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada.
Abstract:
Plant cells usually grow in a coordinated manner due to rigid cell wall connections. However, individual tissue layers may differ in their growth capacity or elastic properties, creating tissue-level mechanical stresses. While mechanical forces are recognized as a key factor controlling growth and organ posture, the origin and exact patterns of tissue stresses in different organs remain unclear. This review synthesizes current knowledge of tissue mechanics in stems, roots, and leaves, emphasizing stress pattern changes during development, their potential causes, and the tissue-specific regulation of organ growth.
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