Learning from an intelligent mechanosensing system of plants

Mechanosensing in plants affords sensing a wide variety of mechanical stimuli (e.g., gravity, touch, wind, or turgor pressure); therefore, it helps some of them to sense, trap, and devour nutritious animals and/or track water. A glimpse on how learning from the plants' mechanosensing could be beneficial for real-world applications in the 21st century is provided herein, starting with an overview of the molecular mechanism behind the mechanotransduction; viz., the change of Ca2+ concentration across the membrane of mechanosensory cells. Details on the mechanosensory organs that characterize the vascular plants are then presented. How scientists apply the current knowledge to plant-mimetic mechanosensors via advanced materials and technologies is also discussed, ending with a supplementing perspective on the future of plant-inspired mechanosensing research.