Thigmomorphogenesis: changes in the morphology and chemical composition induced by mechanical perturbation in 6-month-old Pinustaeda seedlings

Abstract

Seedlings of five half-sibs (seedlings that share a commom maternal parent) of Pinustaeda L. exposed to a bidirectional mechanical perturbation for 6 months exhibited a reduced rate of stem elongation and a reduction in the length of both juvenile leaves and needles. Of the five half-sibs tested, two different anatomical mechanisms of radial enlargement could be identified. Two half-sibs exhibited increased radial growth in the xylem parallel to the direction of the perturbation and no change in the axis perpendicular to the perturbation. Two exhibited a reduction in growth perpendicular to the perturbation with no change in the axis parallel to the perturbation. One half-sib appears to be intermediate between the two other pairs of half-sibs.An overall increase in extractable compounds was observed in the organic solvent fraction of mechanically perturbed seedlings. The amount of lignin appeared to remain fairly constant, and there was no change in the amounts of holocellulose or water extractable compounds.