The role of plant microstructure in plant-microorganism interaction - a biomimetic approach

The first point of contact in the interaction between plants and microorganisms is the plant surface. This interaction is composed of two components: the physical one (surface microstructure) and the chemical/molecular one (molecular signals expressed on the surface). The surface microstructure can be viewed as one more form of signaling within the plant system. When studying plant-microorganism interaction using the natural plant, it is impossible to separate those two components as they are entangled within the biological system. Hence, to study the surface effect, new tools need to be built.

Biomimetics is a field combining chemistry and material sciences to imitate biological systems. Natural systems resolve problems through structural solutions, particularly, microstructures. The structural solutions achieved by nature have fascinated researchers over the years, encouraging them to seek synthetic mimics. One example for microstructure mimic comes from the lotus leaf, known for its ‘lotus effect’ - self-cleaning properties. The lotus leaf served as a template for microstructure biomimetics, to generate self-cleaning synthetic materials.

We are currently testing how leaf microstructure affects plant interaction with plant pathogens. We are using tomato and several pathogenic fungi and bacteria as a model system. Additionally, we are adopting tools from the leaf microstructure mimetics field into the world of plant roots and we are testing how root surface microstructure affects the pathogeny of root nematodes and pathogenic bacteria. We see this method as a powerful tool in gaining a better understanding of the interface between the plant surface and its biotic and abiotic surroundings.