How pollen tubes perceive and overcome obstacles
Physical forces are involved in the regulation of plant development and morphogenesis by translating mechanical stress into the modification of physiological processes, which can affect cellular growth. We combined a lab-on-a-chip device with a MEMS-based capacitive force sensor to mimic and quantify the forces that are involved in pollen tube navigation upon confronting mechanical obstacles (Fig. 2). We were able to show that Pollen tubes literally feel their way through their environment to avoid obstacles as they deliver sperm cells to the ovule [3].
Fig 2. (a) System configuration to simulate the natural environment of the pollen tube (PT) in vitro combining a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device with a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based force sensor. (b) Different stages of the PT’s interaction to sense and overcome a barrier by penetrating through a narrow gap (c) Forces exerted by lily pollen tubes (PTs) growing through a small gap.