Movement Of Plants Research Articles

Salicaceae as potential host plants of Xylella fastidiosa in European temperate regions

The discovery of several strains belonging to three subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe has triggered major attention to the potential spread up north of the bacteria. It is essential to assess the susceptibility of the previously unexposed European flora to this pathogen. Under biosafety facility, we evaluated the susceptibility of Salicaceae such as Populus tremula, Populus canescens, Salix alba and Salix caprea by mechanically inoculating the KLN59.3 GFP-labelled X. fastidiosa at 22 °C and at 28 °C. Bacterial movement and multiplication in plants were investigated by PCR, real-time PCR, confocal or scanning electron microscopy. Nine months post-inoculation, 100% of the plants tested positive for X. fastidiosa, with the exception of 57% for P. canescens under the 22 °C-growing conditions. Bacteria were detected up to 120 cm from the inoculation point for S. alba. They were detected in the roots of all species and were successfully isolated for S. alba and P. tremula. Estimates of average CFU/g of plant tissue per species ranged from 1.5E + 03 to 3.5E + 06, with the lowest figures for P. canescens and the highest for P. tremula together with high number of totally obstructed vessels observed by confocal microscopy. The possibility of insect transmission was also evaluated using an experimental set up based on Majorca Island. There, transmission by P. spumarius of both X. fastidiosa ST1 and ST81 was proven on S. alba. We thus demonstrated that indigenous European Salicaceae such as S. alba or P. tremula are new potential hosts for X. fastidiosa.

Shaping Scientific Fundamentals of Anthropic Phytocenology as a Branch of Anthropogenic Landscape Studies

The phenomena of adventitious and synanthropic flora can be considered both from biological positions - then they are studied as elements of phytocenosis and biocenosis as a whole, and from geographical ones – then the basic concept in the research becomes the landscape. Adventitious and synanthropic species are elements of biocenosis and landscape at the same time, but it is the landscape approach that makes it possible to highlight the above-mentioned scientific problem in the most complete way. Studies of adventitious and synanthropic phytocenoses are interdisciplinary. Due to the key role of a human bein in spreading the processes of adventitization, synanthropization and phytoinvasions, the scientific discipline that puts such studies in the center of attention is anthropic phytocenology. The methodological basis of anthropic phytocenological studies is the provisions of anthropogenic landscape science, modern ecology, noospherology, the concept of sustainable development, the doctrine of the interaction of nature and society, as well as the laws of dialectics, systemic and synergistic approaches, etc. Anthropic phytocenology is connected by genetic interdisciplinary connections with botany and ecology, in particular, phytocenology. Its object-subject sphere partially coincides with these sciences. In particular, specific (real) objects of research - plants – are connected with botany. Anthropic phytocenology combines with ecology the study of a conceptual object – connections and relations between elements of the ecosystem, namely – aboriginal and adventitious species. As for phytocenology, we consider anthropic phytocenology as one of its sections, which studies adventitious plant species and synanthropic phytocenoses. Information ties of anthropic phytocenology are manifested at its boundary with geography, transport technologies, and plant ecology. Thus, from the geography of plants, anthropic phytocenology takes data on the limitation of species to certain conditions of the geographical environment – geomorphological, climatic, etc. Thanks to the geography of transport, anthropic phytocenology receives information about the main directions of movement of plants, in particular by railway transport. From landscape science, anthropic phytocenology obtains data on the ratio of natural landscapes in which one or another species is aboriginal or adventitious. The study of transport technologies makes it possible to obtain information about some parameters of plant movement. Plant ecology provides insight into the mechanisms of competition between native and adventitious species in a given area. The commonality of the object of the research shows the interdisciplinary connections of anthropic phytocenology with anthropogenic landscape science, synecology. By the commonality of methods, anthropic phytocenology is connected with almost all earth sciences, in which research is impossible without observing objects and their fixation. Connections with geography are of particular importance, from which anthropic phytocenology borrows cartographic and – in part – mathematical methods. Anthropic phytocenology as a scientific discipline needs its own conceptual and terminological apparatus. Its components are, first of all, concepts and terms of landscape science in general and anthropogenic landscape science in particular, as well as plant ecology, especially phytocenology. The geographical component of the conceptual and terminological apparatus of anthropic phytocenology consists mainly of concepts and terms related to the category «landscape». Concepts expressing its structural components, such as «locality», «tract», «facies», are related to the latter. Of the concepts and terms used in plant ecology, those containing the words «aboriginal», «adventitious», «invasive», «synanthropic», etc., as well as «biotope», «biocenosis», «biogeocenosis», are related to anthropic phytocenology, «local growth», «ecological niche», «phytocenosis», etc. Keywords: adventitious flora, synanthropic flora, landscape, phytocenosis, interdisciplinary connections, conceptual and terminological apparatus.

Genetic Structure of the Liriope muscari Polyploid Complex and the Possibility of Its Genetic Disturbance in Japan.

Anthropogenic activities, such as the movement of plants through greening, can result in genetic disturbance that can interfere with local adaptation in wild populations. Although research is underway to prevent genetic disturbance associated with greening, genetic disturbance of intraspecific polyploidy, which is estimated to be present in 24% of vascular plants, has not been well studied. Liriope muscari is a polyploid complex with known diploid (2n = 36), tetraploid (2n = 72), and hexaploid (2n = 108) forms. The plants of this species tolerate dry and hot conditions and are therefore frequently used for greening and gardening. However, the distribution of this polyploid in Japan, its genetic structure, and genetic disturbance are not known. In this study, we investigated the polyploidy distribution and genetic structure in naturally distributed L. muscari in Japan using chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotypes and nuclear DNA (nDNA). Commercially produced individuals were also studied and compared with natural populations to assess any genetic disturbance of the ploidy complex in this species. Chromosome counts, cpDNA, and nDNA results showed three genetically and cytologically distinct groups in Japan: first, a tetraploid group in mainland Japan; second, a hexaploid group in the Ryukyu Islands; and third, a diploid and tetraploid group in the Ryukyu Islands. Significant isolation by distance was also detected within the three groups (p = 0.001). Genetic disturbance due to greening and gardening should be avoided among the three groups. Genetic disturbance can be reduced by using individuals derived from natural populations that are close to the sites used for greening and gardening. For commercially produced individuals, genetic disturbance is unlikely in the Kanto region, an area of high usage, while genetic disturbance is thought possible in the Ryukyu Islands.

Bacterial Wilt Resistance in Blueberry Species

ABSTRACT Blueberry production is expanding rapidly in the United States and globally. In 2016, bacterial wilt was discovered in Florida blueberry production. Because of the international movement of plants, this disease poses a significant risk to production. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the resistance of blueberry species and cultivars to the three genetically distinct populations of Ralstonia identified in Florida blueberry production. Nineteen cultivars/species of Vaccinium were used in this study. Plants were selected from wild, northern, southern, midbush, lowbush, and rabbiteye varieties. Plants were inoculated with three genetically distinct strains of the pathogen, and experiments were replicated three times. Varying levels of quantitative (multigenic) bacterial wilt resistance were observed among varieties tested, with rabbiteye cultivars being the most resistant. These results are similar to bacterial wilt resistance observed in other agronomic crops. We also observed a unique specific qualitative (vertical) resistance in the rabbiteye cultivar ´Ochlockonee’. The pathogen was unable to colonize plant tissue and cause disease on this cultivar. This is the first report of qualitative resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum in blueberry. Both the multigenic and vertical resistance can be incorporated into blueberry breeding programs to mitigate potential losses to bacterial wilt.

Forgotten Contributions: The Overlooked Impact of Ellen Harrison and Early 20th Century Women in Urban Greening

Many women and women-run associations were involved in historical urban beautification in the United States, especially tree planting, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While men had formal roles as city foresters, arborists, horticulturalists, and landscape architects, women from elite families sometimes labored for free to organize and advocate for urban tree planting. Tightly knit social circles of high-society women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, yielded much greater influence in nascent tree planting and park creation movements than has generally been recognized. They often contributed their time, finances, input, and skill to landscape planting projects; however, they were not considered equal to the men who were compensated employees. These women planted, plotted, studied, and persevered, overcoming preconceived notions of womanhood, although their meaningful efforts were often viewed as merely an offshoot of their feminine domestic role. For women, limited by opportunities in male-dominated arenas, shaping their cities was a socially accepted means for empowerment. Ellen Waln Harrison (1846 to 1922) was a key figure in civic beautification in her hometown of Philadelphia and beyond. Ellen Harrison was married to Charles Custis Harrison, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and she personally oversaw campus landscaping efforts, and was referred to as his “right hand.” Her story is emblematic of a larger trend regarding women in botany, horticulture, and urban forestry around the turn of the 20th century.

An image enhancement approach for coral reef fish detection in underwater videos

Coral reefs are rich in fisheries and aquatic resources, and the study and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems are of great economic value and practical significance. Due to complex backgrounds and low-quality videos, it is challenging to identify coral reef fish. This study proposed an image enhancement approach for fish detection in complex underwater environments. The method first uses a Siamese network to obtain a saliency map and then multiplies this saliency map by the input image to construct an image enhancement module. Applying this module to the existing mainstream one-stage and two-stage target detection frameworks can significantly improve their detection accuracy. Good detection performance was achieved in a variety of scenarios, such as those with luminosity variations, aquatic plant movements, blurred images, large targets and multiple targets, demonstrating the robustness of the algorithm. The best performance was achieved on the LCF-15 dataset when combining the proposed method with the cascade region-based convolutional neural network (Cascade-RCNN). The average precision at an intersection-over-union (IoU) threshold of 0.5 (AP50) was 0.843, and the F1 score was 0.817, exceeding the best reported results on this dataset. This study provides an automated video analysis tool for marine-related researchers and technical support for downstream applications.

Hebrew University’s Botanical Garden: a Source in Scientific Knowledge Creation in Mandatory Palestine

This primary source commentary analyzes a letter (dated 28 July 1929) sent by Alexander Eig, botanist and custodian of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s herbarium, to Judah Magnes, chancellor and later first president of Hebrew University. This letter, which discusses the creation of a botanical garden connected to the university, shows how the emerging Jewish community of botanists at the newly established Hebrew University was carving out space for itself in the international community of botanical experts. Moreover, the letter exemplifies the importance of people’s mobility in creating botanical knowledge, as well as the movement of plants, seeds, and other specimens, and highlights interaction between scientific institutions as an important aspect of nation-building. Mandatory Palestine’s position as the “Holy Land,” as well as its location across Middle Eastern and Mediterranean environmental spaces, made Jerusalem a unique and attractive center for botanical knowledge creation, as was recognized early on by the Jewish botanists in question.

Rapid flower closure of Drosera tokaiensis deters caterpillar herbivory.

Certain plants exhibit rapid movement in response to mechanical stimulation; however, the ecological functions of this behaviour are largely unknown. Here, we show that the rapid flower closure of Drosera tokaiensis (Droseraceae) in response to mechanical stimulation functions as a physical defence against a specialist herbivore Buckleria paludum (Pterophoridae) caterpillar. Following feeding damage on fruits, flowers, flower stalks and buds by B. paludum, D. tokaiensis closed its flowers nine times faster than during natural circadian closure. The extent of damage to ovules was significantly reduced when the flowers were able to close compared with the condition in which closure was physically inhibited by the application of a resin. Nonetheless, flower closure had no effect on the feeding damage to stamens and styles and promoted further damage to petals. Given that feeding on petals, stamens and styles had no significant effect on the number of mature seeds, rapid flower closure leading to the protection of ovules had an overall positive effect on the reproductive success of D. tokaiensis. Our study showed rapid plant movement as a novel case of induced physical defence against herbivory.

Chemonastic Stalked Glands in the Carnivorous Rainbow Plant Byblis gigantea LINDL. (Byblidaceae, Lamiales).

Carnivorous rainbow plants (Byblis, Byblidaceae, Lamiales) possess sticky flypaper traps for the capture, retention, and digestion of prey (mainly small insects). The trapping system is based on a multitude of millimeter-sized glandular trichomes (also termed stalked glands), which produce adhesive glue drops. For over a century, the trapping system of Byblis was considered passive, meaning that no plant movement is involved. Recently, a remarkable discovery was made: the stalked glands of Byblis are indeed capable of reacting to chemical (protein) stimuli with slow movement responses. This prompted us to investigate this phenomenon further with a series of experiments on the stimulation, kinematics, actuation, and functional morphology of the stalked glands of cultivated Byblis gigantea plants. Measured stalked gland lengths and densities on the trap leaves are similar to the data from the literature. Motion reactions could only be triggered with chemical stimuli, corroborating the prior study on the stalked gland sensitivity. Reaction time (i.e., time from stimulation until the onset of motion) and movement duration are temperature-dependent, which hints towards a tight physiological control of the involved processes. The stalked gland movement, which consist of a sequence of twisting and kinking motions, is rendered possible by the components of the stalk cell wall and is furthermore anatomically and mechanically predetermined by the orientation of cellulose microfibrils in the cell wall. Successive water displacement processes from the stalk cell into the basal cells actuate the movement. The same kinematics could be observed in stalked glands drying in air or submersed in a saturated salt solution. Stimulated and dried stalked glands as well as those from the hypertonic medium were capable of regaining their initial shape by rehydration in water. However, no glue production could be observed afterwards. The long-time overlooked chemonastic movements of stalked glands may help Byblis to retain and digest its prey; however, further research is needed to shed light on the ecological characteristics of the rainbow plant’s trapping system.

Erythrina stem borer moth in California - New taxonomic status and implications for control of this emerging pest.

During the last 10 years, the Erythrina stem borer moth, Terastia meticulosalis, emerged as a pest of cultivated coral trees (Erythrina spp.) in California. Erythrina trees are valued for their moderate drought resistance and beautiful flame-like flowers. They are beloved enough to be considered Los Angeles's official "City Tree." Thus, they are a valuable horticultural crop and are grown by many nurseries and occur throughout the landscape in coastal southern California. Coral trees have been heavily affected by T. meticulosalis recently. Using whole genome sequencing techniques, we analysed the origins of this and other infestations of Erythrina in coastal areas and found that they have likely originated from the repeated expansions of the native range of the species in Arizona, a process possibly driven by climatic factors and/or movement of plants by humans. We also found sufficient genetic differences between the western population of the moth and the rest of the New World populations to describe a new western subspecies, T. meticulosalis occidentalis Sourakov & Grishin ssp. n. (type locality USA: CA, San Diego Co., La Jolla). These findings are of economic importance for future attempts to control the moth's impact on activities surrounding the horticultural use of Erythrina spp. by the Californian landscape and nursery industries.

Transcriptome analysis revealed the expression levels of genes related to abscisic acid and auxin biosynthesis in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) under root restriction.

The root system is essential for the stable growth of plants. Roots help anchor plants in the soil and play a crucial role in water uptake, mineral nutrient absorption and endogenous phytohormone formation. Root-restriction (RR) cultivation, a powerful technique, confines plant roots to a specific soil space. In the present study, roots of one-year-old “Muscat Hamburg” grapevine under RR and control (nR) treatments harvested at 70 and 125 days after planting were used for transcriptome sequencing, and in total, 2031 (nR7 vs. nR12), 1445 (RR7 vs. RR12), 1532 (nR7 vs. RR7), and 2799 (nR12 vs. RR12) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis demonstrated that there were several genes involved in the response to different phytohormones, including abscisic acid (ABA), auxin (IAA), ethylene (ETH), gibberellins (GAs), and cytokinins (CTKs). Among them, multiple genes, such as PIN2 and ERF113, are involved in regulating vital plant movements by various phytohormone pathways. Moreover, following RR cultivation, DEGs were enriched in the biological processes of plant-type secondary cell wall biosynthesis, the defense response, programmed cell death involved in cell development, and the oxalate metabolic process. Furthermore, through a combined analysis of the transcriptome and previously published microRNA (miRNA) sequencing results, we found that multiple differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and DEG combinations in different comparison groups exhibited opposite trends, indicating that the expression levels of miRNAs and their target genes were negatively correlated. Furthermore, RR treatment indeed significantly increased the ABA content at 125 days after planting and significantly decreased the IAA content at 70 days after planting. Under RR cultivation, most ABA biosynthesis-related genes were upregulated, while most IAA biosynthesis-related genes were downregulated. These findings lay a solid foundation for further establishing the network through which miRNAs regulate grapevine root development through target genes and for further exploring the molecular mechanism through which endogenous ABA and IAA regulate root architecture development in grapevine.

Occurrence Of Rust Causing Fungus Coleosporium Plumeria On Plumeria Alba In Akola District Of Maharashtra

Plumeria is a member of the Apocynaceae family, which includes approximately 300 genera and over 1400 species found primarily in the tropics and subtropics (Dassanayake and Fosberg, 1983). The plant produces a variety of coloured flowers with a pleasant fragrance. It is primarily used for medicinal and religious purposes. The leaves are used as a treatment for cattle wounds. The plant is also used to treat leprosy and fevers (Yadav and Sardesai, 2012). In Maharashtra, they grow as a small ornamental tree in temple pumices, parks, residential areas, and commercial landscapes. Baiswar et al. (2008) first time reported the rust caused by Coleosporium plumeriae on Plumeria alba in Meghalaya state of India in 2008. The disease is also reported in Maharashtra and other parts of country. During the winter, disease severity was at an all-time high. On the lower surface of many leaves, there was a thick layer of bright yellow-orange uredinia. The position of the uredinia was indicated by irregular yellow patches on the upper surface of the leaves. The patches turn dark brown, and the leaves fall prematurely. Other than Plumeria, this rust fungus has no known hosts. Windborne spores and human plant movement spread the disease. Since no research has been conducted on rust infection on Plumeria plants in the Vidarbha region. As a result, a microscopic study for rust infection was carried out, and infected samples were brought to the laboratory for further examination.

Principal bioclimatic variables of ten dominant plant species in Korea wetland using the Maxent model

Wetland is valuable ecosystem mainly driven by the plants that constructs it. However, despite the vulnerability of plants to climate change, its impacts are yet to be fully understood. To extensively understand the impact of climate change on wetland plants distribution in the future, the physical and climatic characteristics of the distribution should be quantified. Therefore, this study compared the physical and bioclimatic models of ten dominant wetland plants (Hydrilla verticillata, Persicaria thunbergii, Phragmites australis, Potamogeton distinctus, Salix gracilistyla, Salix koreensis, Scirpus tabernaemontani, Trapa japonica, Typha orientalis, Zizania latifolia) to investigate the practical variables for describing their distribution through the Maxent model. Through this process, we identified the preferred range in each variable for each species. The results also revealed that bioclimatic models were more accurate for drawing plants distribution maps compared to the physical model under the Korean condition. Given the model complexity that working officials might feel and the database deficiency in Korea, this study will help to reflect plant movements in the Wetland Protection Act using simple variables.

Across Time, Space, and Matter

Across Time, Space, and Matter

Novel Motion Sequences in Plant-Inspired Robotics: Combining Inspirations from Snap-Trapping in Two Plant Species into an Artificial Venus Flytrap Demonstrator.

The field of plant-inspired robotics is based on principles underlying the movements and attachment and adaptability strategies of plants, which together with their materials systems serve as concept generators. The transference of the functions and underlying structural principles of plants thus enables the development of novel life-like technical materials systems. For example, principles involved in the hinge-less movements of carnivorous snap-trap plants and climbing plants can be used in technical applications. A combination of the snap-trap motion of two plant species (Aldrovanda vesiculosa and Dionaea muscipula) has led to the creation of a novel motion sequence for plant-inspired robotics in an artificial Venus flytrap system, the Venus Flyflap. The novel motion pattern of Venus Flyflap lobes has been characterized by using four state-of-the-art actuation systems. A kinematic analysis of the individual phases of the new motion cycle has been performed by utilizing precise pneumatic actuation. Contactless magnetic actuation augments lobe motion into energy-efficient resonance-like oscillatory motion. The use of environmentally driven actuator materials has allowed autonomous motion generation via changes in environmental conditions. Measurement of the energy required for the differently actuated movements has shown that the Venus Flyflap is not only faster than the biological models in its closing movement, but also requires less energy in certain cases for the execution of this movement.

THE APPLICATION OF AN ADAPTIVE SOFT STRUCTURE FOR LIGHTWEIGHT FACADES

Building façades play an important role in the performance of buildings. They define the architectural aesthetics of buildings and separate the occupied indoor space from the outdoor environment. Historically, façades were considered to be a load-bearing structural element and limited in their functionality and adaptability to environmental changes. The application of bio-inspired strategies to building façades that are derived from principles found in nature offers more flexibility and adaptability to the external environment. This research presents a bio-inspired adaptive façade system that is derived through the biological analysis of a deformability mechanism, namely, turgor-based actuation, found in plant movements. The adaptive prototype module inspired by a nastic movement is composed of two lightweight triangular plates connected to pneumatic artificial muscles that control folding and unfolding of the device by pressurization. Finally, the application of adaptive modules in a building façade is simulated via computational 3D modelling. The simulation analysis shows the possibility of creating a system from numerous modules that can create a rich palette of typologies resulting in a gradient of openings. This could be an appropriate solution for an external shading device or as regulator for air ventilation and light transmission.

Women and Resilience on Pandemic Covid-19 Disaster: Feminist Participatory Action (FPA)

<p class="06IsiAbstrak"><em>Women are the group that receives double impacts than men in disaster situations, including the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, women have bigger potentials to participate in the implementation of the Covid-19 pandemic disaster management. This article explores women's resilience initiatives in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic disaster situation. This study used a descriptive narrative method to explain the initiative of the women community assisted by LRC-KJHAM in Central Java, Indonesia. The results showed that the women's community through the feminist participatory action (FPA) took the initiative and adaptive activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, including through education consist online discussions, counseling and campaigns and promote economic empowerment such as online markets, MSMEs, health protocol equipment, women's planting movements). In this article, Feminists Participatory Action means the collection of some actions which is based on the data collected by vulnerable women and following by distributing some actions as part of their social assistance, such as through the provision of temporary shelters for women victims of domestic violence during the pandemic.</em></p>

Capturing High Resolution Plant Movement in the Field.

Lodging of small grains due to environmental stresses results in yield loss, quality reduction, and difficulties with mechanical harvesting, which lead to economic consequences. New technological discoveries allow for faster and in situ measurements for determining the mechanics of loading stress and plant movement. The overall measurement of plant movement can be a very sophisticated method to mechanically test and predict the behavior of stems when exposed to wind. We investigated the inertial measurement of plants during different magnitude wind events. This type of analysis captures real time quantitative stem behavior during wind events. Using a 1.5 cm2 inertial measurement sensor attached to the upper panicle of a plant, we recorded the ranges and extremes of instantaneous linear acceleration and rotational velocity. When this technology was applied to historically known varieties of different lodging classification, the measurements were able to distinguish between cereal species and differences between movement of lodging susceptible and resistant plants without physical lodging. This type of technology could be used to improve field based lodging models and quantify movement resulting from micro changes in structural and composition of the stem, and to analyze plant movement in natural conditions with a resolution and specificity that has so far been prohibitively expensive and technologically challenging to achieve.

Influences of Biochar on Bioremediation/Phytoremediation Potential of Metal-Contaminated Soils.

A number of anthropogenic and weathering activities accumulate heavy metals in soils, causing adverse effects on soil characteristics, microbial activity (diversity), agricultural practices, and underground aquifers. Controlling soil heavy metal pollution is difficult due to its persistence in soils, resulting in the deposition and transmission into the food web via agricultural food products, ultimately affecting human health. This review critically explores the potential for remediation of metal-contaminated soils using a biochar-based responsible approach. Plant-based biochar is an auspicious bio-based residue substance that can be used for metal-polluted soil remediation and soil improvement as a sustainable approach. Plants with rapid growth and increased biomass can meet the requirements for phytoremediation in large quantities. Recent research indicates significant progress in understanding the mechanisms of metal accumulation and contaminant movement in plants used for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soil. Excessive contamination reduces plant biomass and growth, which has substantial hyperaccumulating possibilities and is detrimental to the phytoremediation process. Biochar derived from various plant sources can promote the growth and phytoremediation competence of native or wild plants grown in metal-polluted soil. Carbon-enriched biochar encourages native microbial growth by neutralizing pH and providing nutritional support. Thus, this review critically discusses the influence of plant and agricultural waste-based biochar on plant phytoremediation potential in metal-contaminated soils.

PlantMove: A tool for quantifying motion fields of plant movements from point cloud time series

• A progressive coarse-to-fine nonrigid point cloud registration framework for movement quantification in plants. • PlantMove accurately estimated point-wise 3D motion fields of movements in plants. • PlantMove is capable of processing point cloud time series recorded over hours to years. The mechanisms involved in organ motions are central to our understanding of how plants develop and respond to environmental stimuli such as light quality, gravity, and water availability throughout time. Recent studies have shown that motions in plants such as circadian rhythms and growth patterns, can be recorded and quantified from time series of terrestrial laser scans (TLS). However, most works monitored the changes of certain functional traits such as height and volume to detect and analyze structural dynamics. A generic method for retrieving fine-scale three-dimensional (3D) motion fields of plant structural movements is still missing. We present PlantMove , a new fully automatic tool to quantify 3D motion fields of plant structural movements with varied magnitudes using TLS point clouds acquired over different time periods. The method uses spatio-temporal point cloud registration embedded in a progressive and coarse-to-fine framework, enabling an efficient processing of large datasets with complex structures. PlantMove was first demonstrated on synthetic plant datasets, displaying millimeter to centimeter level accuracy of retrieved motion fields. In addition, PlantMove was used to assess circadian rhythms on a birch tree from TLS data acquired over the course of one night with about one-hour time intervals, and growth patterns on an English oak from a four-year TLS survey. PlantMove can help to better monitor plant phenotypic plasticity with fine level of details, and can contribute to improve our understanding in plant dynamics across various spatial and temporal scales.