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1: Science. 2007 May 11;316(5826):884-6.Click here to read Links

The role of wheat awns in the seed dispersal unit.

Elbaum R, Zaltzman L, Burgert I, Fratzl P.

Biomaterials Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Golm, Germany. elbaum@mpikg.mpg.de

The dispersal unit of wild wheat bears two pronounced awns that balance the unit as it falls. We discovered that the awns are also able to propel the seeds on and into the ground. The arrangement of cellulose fibrils causes bending of the awns with changes in humidity. Silicified hairs that cover the awns allow propulsion of the unit only in the direction of the seeds. This suggests that the dead tissue is analogous to a motor. Fueled by the daily humidity cycle, the awns induce the motility required for seed dispersal.

PMID: 17495170 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]