Valve regulates water permeability: yellow bush lupine

1 of 2 Yellow Bush Lupine / Anita Gould / License

The seed coats of some desert plants adjust their permeability to moisture via a humidity-sensitive hilar valve.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Excess liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Building envelope that controls its own humidity. Package that either keeps food moist, or keeps moisture out. Clothing that adjusts to let out sweat.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

Seeds need the right conditions to germinate and for most, that means sufficient water. For desert plants, the right amount of water could take months or years to arrive, so some seeds become dormant. Their seed coats become impermeable to water, which appears to be contradictory if a seed needs to absorb water to germinate. However, imagine what disaster could befall a plant population if its seeds respond to any water event that comes along, or even just temporary high humidity.

Seeds of several members of the Legume family have a valve that adjusts to changes in humidity while the rest of the seed coat remains impermeable. The hilar valve or hilum is the scar where the seed once attached to the parent plant. The valve allows water vapor to enter and exit to maintain a safe internal moisture level, but does not allow liquid water to pass. If humidity levels suddenly drop, stay low, then suddenly rise again, the valve doesn’t allow moisture back in. Essentially, the hilum then acts as a one-way valve, not allowing moisture in when humidity levels are high, but letting moisture out as humidity levels decrease. However, if humidity levels gradually rise to a high enough level, the hilar valve stays open and eventually allows liquid water to enter to the point when germination can occur if the seed is immersed in water.

Different types of cells control the hilar valve. Columnar-shaped cells on either side of the opening and outside the impermeable layer, called counter palisade cells, are hygroscopic—they absorb water molecules from the atmosphere. When external humidity levels are high, they swell and close the valve, preventing water absorption into the seed. When humidity levels are low, they shrivel, causing the valve to open, allowing the seed to dry out more. Other cells, palisade epidermis cells, that control the hilar valve are found in a layer lining the inside of the seed coat’s impermeable layer. There is a certain amount of moisture tension between these cells and the counter palisade cells on the other side of the impermeable layer. For the hilum to close, this tension needs to exceed some minimum level. If while the hilar valve is open (i.e., at low relative humidity) there is a sudden increase in humidity, the tension reaches that minimum level and the hilum closes, prevent moisture from entering. If, however, there is a gradual rise in humidity, which signals the coming of suitable germination and growing conditions, the tension level never gets met, and the hilum stays open, allowing moisture to continue entering.

We can learn from clovers and lupines how to regulate moisture levels for buildings, packaging, bandages, and clothing. A building, for example, could have a breathing skin or envelope that self-adjusts to humidity levels, differences in temperature, atmospheric pressure, or liquids. A breathing building could result in healthier indoor air quality and moisture levels, creating a more comfortable and productive work space.

Excerpt

"In seeds of Trifolium repens, T. pratense, and Lupinus arboreus, the hilum is a hydroscopically activated valve in the impermeable epidermis of the testa. When relative humidity was low the fissure in the hilum opened permitting the seed to dry out; when the relative humidity was high the fissure closed obstructing the absorption of moisture. During seed-ripening the moisture content fell readily to approximately 25 per cent., and thereafter more slowly until the epidermis became impermeable at approximately 14 per cent. moisture content. Further drying of the seed took place only by diffusion of water vapour through the hilum. 'Hard' seeds tended to have a moisture content in equilibrium with the lowest relative humidity to which they had been exposed. They absorbed moisture under conditions of gradually increasing relative humidity such that the hilar fissure remained open. The duration of the impermeable condition increased with the degree of desiccation brought about by loss of water through the hilum." (Hyde 1954:241)

About the inspiring organism

Lupinus arboreus
Lupinus arboreus Sims
[Yellow bush lupine]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown

Some organism data provided by: ILDIS World Database of Legumes
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Building envelope that controls its own humidity. Package that either keeps food moist, or keeps moisture out. Clothing that adjusts to let out sweat.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Building, packaging, apparel

References

Hyde, E. O. C. 1954. The function of the hilum in some Papilionaceae in relation to the ripening of the seed and the permeability of the testa. Annals of Botany. 18(2): 241-256.

Gutterman Y. 1993. Seed germination in desert plants. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 253 p.

Valve regulates water permeability: yellow bush lupine

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