Biomechanics of tendrils and adhesive pads of the climbing passion flower Passiflora discophora.

ABSTRACT: The climbing passion flower Passiflora discophora features branched tendrils with multiple adhesive pads at their tips allowing it to attach to large-diameter supports and to flat surfaces. We conducted tensile tests to quantify the performance of this attachment system. We found that the force at failure varies with substrate, ontogenetic state (turgescent or senescent), and tendril size (i.e. tendril cross-sectional area and pad area). The tendrils proved to be well balanced in size and to attach firmly to a variety of substrates (force at failure up to 2N). Pull-off tests performed with tendrils grown on either epoxy, plywood, or beech bark revealed that senescent tendrils could still bear 24, 64, or 100% of the force measured for turgescent tendrils, respectively, thus providing long-l

SUBMITTER: Klimm F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8866636 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature