On-Chip Analytical Method for Investigating Protrusive Forces in Growing Plant Roots†

In this study, we present an on-chip analytical method using a microfluidic device to characterize the mechanical properties in growing roots. Roots are essential organs for plants and grow under heterogeneous conditions in soil. Especially, the mechanical impedance in soil significantly affects root growth. Understanding the mechanical properties of roots and the physical interactions between roots and soil is important in plant science and agriculture. However, an effective method for directly evaluating the mechanical properties of growing roots has not been established. To overcome this technical issue, we developed a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device integrated with a cantilevered sensing pillar for measuring the protrusive force generated by the growing roots. Using the developed device, we analyzed the mechanical properties of the roots in a model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. The root growth behavior and the mechanical interaction with the sensing pillar were recorded using a time-lapse microscopy system. We successfully quantified the mechanical properties of growing roots including the protrusive force and apparent Young's modulus based on a simple physical model considering the root morphology. © 2025 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.