Biomechanics of Growth in Plant Biology Event 23 - 27 March 2009

A three-day meeting aims to promote interactions between experimental researchers and modellers from life science, engineering, computer science and mathematical backgrounds, with a focus on the biomechanics of plant growth. Additional speakers will be selected from abstracts submitted for oral presentations and there will be a poster session, at which we encourage attendees to present their work.

A two-day advanced training course or workshop will run prior to the meeting, and will provide a graduate-level introduction to plant biology, and to relevant modelling approaches. The aim of this course will be to provide advanced training in the biomechanics of plant growth, and to promote effective communication between disciplines. A range of top international speakers will give short courses in their areas of expertise. Topics will range from possible applications, to fundamental plant science and mathematics. The workshop will be very interdisciplinary, suiting participants from life science, engineering, computer science and mathematical backgrounds.

Both meetings will be held at the University of Bristol. Funding comes from The Society of Experimental Biology, The EPSRC Bridging the Gaps initiative, The EPSRC supported Bristol Centre for Applied Nonlinear Mathematics, and The BBSRC supported Spatio-Temporal Modeling Network on Plant Systems.

Numbers of participants are limited. Students and postdocs are strongly encouraged to participate.

Important Dates

• 23 - 24 March, Advanced Training Course on Understanding Modelling in Plant Growth: Terminology & Concepts
• 25 - 27 March, International Research Workshop on Biomechanics of Growth in Plant Biology

Confirmed Speakers and Talk Titles:

• Tony Arioli (Bayer Crop Science, Belgium)
  The biology and mechanical properties of the cotton fiber
  Abstract (PDF)
• Francois Chaumont (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
  Aquaporins and regulation of the membrane water permeability during growth
  Abstract (PDF)
• Jacques Dumais (Harvard, USA)
  Cell Morphogenesis - What We Have Learned from Rubber Balloons and Soap Bubbles
  Abstract (PDF)
• Rosemary Dyson (Nottingham CPIB, UK)
  A fibre-reinforced fluid model of anisotropic root cell growth
  Abstract (PDF)
• Krishna Garikipati (Michigan, USA)
  The thermodynamics of growth and what it may tell us
  Abstract (PDF)
• Alain Goriely (Arizona, USA)
  The mechanics of plant stems: growth and consequence
  Abstract (PDF)
• Herman Höfte & Alexis Peaucelle (INRA, France)
  The role of cell wall synthesis and remodeling in growth control in plants
  Abstract (PDF)
• Clive Lloyd (JIC, UK)
  Microtubules and the Shape of Plant Cells
  Abstract (PDF)
• L. Mahadevan (Harvard, USA)
  Aspects of the morphogenesis of (pollen) tubes, (algal) blades and other laminate
  Abstract (PDF)
• Simon McQueen-Mason (York, UK)
  The molecular basis of plant cell wall mechanical properties
  Abstract (PDF)
• Philippe Nacry (INRA, France)
  The Arabidopsis NRT1.1 transporter acts as a nitrate sensor and governs root colonization of nitrate-rich patches via modification of local auxin concentration
  Abstract (PDF)
• Patrick Shipman (Colorado, USA)
  Shapes and Symmetries: Patterns at Plant Apices
  Abstract (PDF)
• Darren Wells (Nottingham CPIB, UK)
  Dissecting root cell expansion: from genes to jam
  Abstract (PDF)

Contributed Talks:

• Peter Ashwin & Gero Steinberg (University of Exeter, UK)
  Modeling bi-directional motor movements for hyphal growth
  Abstract (PDF)
• Arezki Boudaoud (Laboratoire de Physique Statistique, France)
  The growth and mechanics of morphogenesis in leaves
  Abstract (PDF)
• Ingo Burgert (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Germany)
  Mechanical constraints of primary cell wall expansion
  Abstract (PDF)
• Etienne Couturier (Université Paris 7, France)
  Steric Constraints as a Regulation of Leaf Shape
  Abstract (PDF)
• Rosemary Dyson (Nottingham CPIB, UK)
  A fibre-reinforced fluid model of anisotropic plant root cell growth
  Abstract (PDF)
• Anja Geitmann (Université de Montréal, Canada)
  The logistics of material delivery to construction sites - modeling the cytoskeletal control of vesicle transport in tip growing plant cells
  Abstract (PDF)
• Olivier Hamant (Ecole Normale Supérieure Lyon, France)
  Developmental patterning by mechanical signals in Arabidopsis
  Abstract (PDF)
• Eveline Jacques (University of Antwerp, Belgium)
  Introduction of the 'Microfilament Analyzer' as a tool for the analysis of cytoskeletal organisation.
  Abstract (PDF)
• Alexandre Kabla (Cambridge University, UK)
  Bridging single cell behavior and tissue morphogenesis in embryo-development
  Abstract (PDF)
• Yangmin Kim (Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
  Water transport through plants: the role of aquaporins
  Abstract (PDF)
• Martin Mueller (Ecole Normale Supérieure, France)
  Geometry of growing soft tissues
  Abstract (PDF)
• Naomi Nakayama (University of Berne, Switzerland)
  Cellular physics can influence auxin efflux carrier PIN1 in the tomato shoot apical meristem
  Abstract (PDF)

Contact:

• Please contact Kerrie Walker if you have any questions about the Workshop or Training Course.