Abstract text: Plant morphogenesis is the product of mechanical interactions between cells and tissues. These interactions generate forces that can be actively sensed by the cells and affect key cellular processes.
However, to which extent mechanical signal, contribute, together with biochemical cues, to the control of plant organ growth remains poorly understood. To address this, we use the Arabidopsis thaliana seed as a model system, as its growth relies on mechanical interplay between the inner endosperm and the surrounding seed coat.
During early development, endosperm expansion drives growth but induces tension in the seed coat, particularly in the outer integument layers (oi1 and oi2).  This tension triggers adaptive cell wall remodeling, ultimately constraining seed size and shape, highlighting the instructive role of mechanical forces in organ morphogenesis.
My studies investigate how mechanical stresses impact seed growth by testing the hypothesis that biophysical cues modulate oi1 and oi2 cell wall properties through tissue-specific mechanical responses. To test this hypothesis, I integrate biophysical measurements, genetic tools, and biochemical perturbations affecting cell wall mechanics. Using time-lapse imaging of seed developing ex-vivo, coupled with computational segmentation and cell tracking, I quantify how these manipulations affect seed growth rate and anisotropy at both cellular and organ scales.