An international research team published a study in New Phytologist that describes a formula for how vines search for and attach to other plants. The scientists explain why this matters: vines can block sunlight and restrict water and nutrient flow, and host trees store atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The researchers worked with common bean vines and identified three central processes: rapid elongation, directional movement toward supports, and production of specialized contacting cells called G-fibers. G-fibers are contractile cells that help branches bend and allow twining.
To test these parts, the team compared normal vines with plants engineered to produce excess brassinosteroid, a plant hormone that controls growth. Plants with extra hormone showed reduced G-fiber development, elongated very quickly, and moved without clear direction—behavior the team described as "lazy vines." The study also identified a gene family linked to these processes and named a candidate gene, XTH5, active during G-fiber development.
Difficult words
- g-fiber — special plant cell that helps branches bendG-fibers
- elongation — process of becoming longer or growing in length
- directional — moving toward a specific target or support
- brassinosteroid — a plant hormone that controls growth
- twine — to wrap around a support by twistingtwining
- contractile — able to shorten or tighten by contracting
- candidate gene — a gene thought to have a specific role
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Discussion questions
- How might vines that block sunlight affect trees and other forest plants?
- What problems could "lazy vines" cause for the host plants they attach to?
- The study used plants engineered to produce extra hormone. Do you think changing plant hormones is a good idea for agriculture? Why or why not?
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