Scientists discover the hidden “muscles” trees use to straighten themselves

Scientists have discovered that trees can sense their own shape and straighten their trunks using specialized wood that acts like opposing muscles. This remarkable ability helps trees maintain their posture and could lead to stronger forests, better timber, and more resilient crops. Scientists discover the hidden “muscles” trees use to straighten themselves.

This awareness of body position, known as proprioception, was once thought to exist only in animals. In 2012, researchers working with INRAE demonstrated that plants also possess this ability ( Bastien R. This internal sense allows plants to monitor their posture and make adjustments that help them grow as straight as possible ( Moulia et al., Science).

Although scientists had established that plants could detect their own shape, the biological processes responsible for turning that information into physical movement remained a mystery. How Scientists Isolated Trees’ Hidden Sense Plants use several kinds of information to guide their growth. They respond to gravity, detect the direction of sunlight, and monitor the shape and position of their own stems.