This book provides important insights into the operating principles of plants by highlighting
the relationship between structure and function. It describes the quantitative determination of
structural and mechanical parameters such as the material properties of a tissue in
correlation with specific features such as the ability of the tissue to conduct water or
withstand bending forces which will allow advanced analysis in plant biomechanics. This
knowledge enables researchers to understand the developmental changes that occur in plant
organs over their life span and under the influence of environmental factors. The authors
provide an overview of the state of the art of plant structure and function and how they relate
to the mechanical behavior of the organism such as the ability of plants to grow against the
gravity vector or to withstand the forces of wind. They also show the sophisticated strategies
employed by plants to effect organ movement and morphogenesis in the absence of muscles or
cellular migration. As such this book not only appeals to scientists currently working in
plant sciences and biophysics but also inspires future generations to pursue their own
research in this area.
