Mechanics and modeling of plant cell growth

Abstract

Cellular expansive growth is one of the foundations of morphogenesis. In plant and fungal cells, expansive growth is ultimately determined by manipulating the mechanics of the cell wall. Therefore, theoretical and biophysical descriptions of cellular growth processes focus on mathematical models of cell wall biomechanical responses to tensile stresses, produced by the turgor pressure. To capture and explain the biological processes they describe, mathematical models need quantitative information on relevant biophysical parameters, geometry and cellular structure. The increased use of mechanical modeling approaches in plant and fungal cell biology emphasizes the need for the concerted development of both disciplines and underlines the obligation of biologists to understand basic biophysical principles.