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Review
. 2022 Jan;233(1):126-131.
doi: 10.1111/nph.17576. Epub 2021 Jul 21.

Do woody vines use gelatinous fibers to climb?

Joyce G Chery  1 , Rosemary A E Glos  1 , Charles T Anderson  2
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Do woody vines use gelatinous fibers to climb?

Joyce G Chery et al. New Phytol. 2022 Jan.
Free article

Abstract

Many plant movements are facilitated by contractile cells called gelatinous fibers (G-fibers), but how G-fibers function in the climbing movements of woody vines remains underexplored. In this Insight, we compare the presence and distribution of G-fibers in the stems of stem-twiners, which wrap around supports, with non-stem-twiners, which attach to supports via tendrils or adventitious roots. An examination of 164 species spanning the vascular plant phylogeny reveals that G-fibers are common in stem-twiners but scarce in non-stem-twiners, suggesting that G-fibers are preferentially formed in the organ responsible for movement. When present, G-fibers are in the xylem, phloem, pericycle, and/or cortex. We discuss the hypothesis that G-fibers are foundational to plant movement and highlight research opportunities concerning G-fiber development and function.

Keywords: cell wall; climbing mechanisms; convergent evolution; gelatinous fibers; lianas; tension fibers; twining; vines.

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