A computational model of the effect of symplastic growth on cell mechanics in a linear leaf blade

Abstract

The epidermis of a linear leaf, as in Poaceae, is established by parallel files of cells originating from the leaf base. Their feature is symplastic growth where neighboring cell walls adhere and do not slide along each other. We developed a simple mechanical cell-based model for symplastic growth of linear leaf blade. The challenge is to determine what restrictions on cell size symplastic growth creates compared to the free growing cells. We assume an unidirectional growing cell ensemble starting from a meristem-like layer of generative cells and then generating parallel cell rows from every cell of the initial layer. Each cell is characterized by its growth function, and growth of the whole leaf blade is accompanied by mutual adjustment between all the cells. Cells divide once they have reached a threshold area. A mathematical model and its implementation are proposed for computational simulation of 1D symplastic growth of tissues. The question analyzed is how a cell grows in a plant tissue if there is a mechanism for regulating the growth of an isolated growing cell and the behavior of the cell wall matter is elastoplastic. The results of the simulation of linear leaf blade growth are compared to those for a free-growing cell population.