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[Biophysics seminar] Antonio Šiber: “Mechanics of inactive swelling and bursting of porate pollen grains”
5. October, 2021 at 13:00 - 14:00
| The structure of pollen grains, which is typically characterized by soft apertures in an otherwise stiff exine shell, guides their response to changes in the humidity of the environment. These changes can lead to the desiccation of the grain and its infolding but also to excessive swelling of the grain and even its bursting. Here, we use an elastic model to explore the mechanics of pollen grain swelling and the role that soft, circular apertures (pores) play in this process. Small, circular apertures typically occur in airborne and allergenic pollen grains so that the bursting of such grains is important in the context of human health. We identify and quantify a mechanical weakness of the pores, which are prone to a rapid inflation once the grain swells to a critical extent. The inflation occurs as a sudden transition and may induce the bursting of the grain and the release of its content. This process crucially depends on the size of the pores and their softness. Our results provide insight in the inactive part of the mechanical response of pollen grains to hydration once they land on a stigma as well as on bursting of airborne pollen grains during changes in air humidity. |
| The meeting will take place online via Zoom:
Meeting ID: 833 0750 1179 Passcode: bio |