Mechanical stimulation in wheat triggers age- and dose-dependent alterations in growth, development and grain characteristics.

Background And Aims: Wheat crops are exposed to a range of mechanical stimulations in their natural environment, yet we know very little about their response to such conditions. The aim of this study was to better understand the effect of mechanical stimulation on wheat growth and development, stem mechanical properties and grain measures. We focused on the following questions: (1) Does plant age affect the response to mechanical stimulation? (2) Is there a minimum threshold for the perception of mechanical stimuli? (3) Is the effect of manual brushing different to natural wind stimulation?

Methods: For age- and dose-response experiments, wheat plants were grown under controlled glasshouse conditions with brushing treatments applied using a purpose-built rig.