The Mechanical Behavior of Arabidopsis Cotyledons with Genetic Mutations Affecting Cell Structure and Cell Adhesion

The growth of plant cells and their integration into tissues relies on the control of local mechanical properties in the middle lamella, the cell wall, and the cytoskeleton. While mutations affecting constituents of these regions, including actin or pectin, have been shown to influence cotyledon development, the direct influence of these biomolecular components to cell/tissue mechanical properties and cell adhesion remain unclear. To address the current gap, we perform mechanical testing on the cotyledons of Arabidopsis mutants. The combination of a miniature load frame and in situ microscopy highlights the contributions of molecular components to the strength and mechanical failure of plant materials. This connection between cellular biochemistry and mechanical behavior in the leaves of Arabidopsis informs potential modifications to economically valuable plant species.