Parallelized plant morphogenesis in a controlled microfluidic environement.

Plant morphogenesis is a variable yet highly robust process. A same species growing in different conditions will have the same general aspect. But growing in the same conditions will not produce the same final individuals. To quantify this process we developed a microfluidic system to follow several individuals growing in parallel under the same controlled conditions.

We use the plant model Marchantia polymorpha, capable of growing in aqueous media, whose vegetative reproductive cycle produces numerous, genetically identical, gemmae that will each grow to form a new plant. Gemmae are close to flat, and during the first days of growth they are millimetric in size. This makes them suited for observation in a microfluidic chip. Our system has traps to isolate individuals and keep them in place for observation over a few days. The flow inside the chip can be controlled thus allowing for continuous or fast changes in the surrounding media.

With this system we will better uderstand the mechanisms behind plant growth. By using different osmolarity conditions and variations, we will investigate the force balance between turgor pressure and cell wall rigidity that drives growth. Additionally the use of drugs andt mutants will help identify the relevant actors of the morphogenesis process.