Quantification of plant structure-function relationships through micro-CT imaging-based finite element modeling

Plants display complex structural tissue arrangements and cell shapes that are intimately related to their functionality and whose precise geometry influences the metabolic and physical processes performed by different organs. Analyzing these structure-function relationships requires accurate information on the complex 3D anatomy and its changes over time at meaningful spatial resolution. A non-invasive approach, micro-CT imaging, can produce such 3D or 4D datasets and can be leveraged for finite element (FE) simulations of mechanical and physical processes. This combination of techniques has been employed to study biomechanical properties, gaseous diffusion, light propagation, hydraulics, and thermodynamic processes in plant organs. A deep understanding of structure-function relationships also paves the way to design bio-inspired structures using plant anatomy as a reference. Here, we illustrate how the combination of micro-CT-based imaging and FE modeling can be leveraged in plant science for advanced investigation of structure-function relationships.