Method for analyzing dynamic response of plants to external stimulation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05287
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 28050:Nano/micro-systems-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Hida Hirotaka 神戸大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (60402509)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロ・ナノ科学 / Micro TAS / Plant-on-a-chip / マイクロ・ナノデバイス / バイオメカニクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand the mechanisms of plant response to external stimulus including gravity, we have developed the analytical systems for continuously observing and analyzing the growth behavior of the growing plants. (1) By using the microfluidic device integrated with the micropillar-based force sensors, we successfully measured the mechanical properties of the growing sprouts. (2) The mechanical stress might inhibit the infection of the plant-parasitic nematodes to the plants. (3) We observed that the lateral roots of rice plants tended to elongate toward the high concentration region.

Free Research Field

バイオマイクロシステム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，外部刺激に対する植物の応答の解明を目的とし，植物の成長挙動を連続的に解析可能なシステムを開発した。本手法は，従来は困難であった「生きたまま」の植物の硬さや成長時の発生力が評価可能であり，新たな観点から植物の成長メカニズムの解明に貢献する。また，植物の成長メカニズムの理解を通じ，将来的には農作物の生育技術の改善へと発展が期待される。