Data from: Functional morphology of passive prickle puncture varies between life-stages in Rubus allegheniensis
Data files
Jun 30, 2026 version files 21.69 KB
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basicmorph.csv
9.26 KB
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bending.csv
7.58 KB
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puncture_use.csv
2.91 KB
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README.md
1.94 KB
Abstract
Blackberries, like many members of the genus Rubus, have prickles that provide puncture-based protection from herbivory. Our goal was to understand the mechanics of passive prickle puncture, and to discern if the functional morphology of prickles changes along the stem and between life stages We collected and measured 20 specimens, 10 primocanes (the vegetative growth life stage) and 9 floricanes (the flowing reproductive life stage), of the Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis). The data shared here were collected to compare: 1) Prickle morphology: Length (mm), aspect ratio (length/width), angle relative to the stem, and prickle density (#/10 cm) compared between life stages and between 10 % increments along the stem; 2) Puncture energetics: Force to initiate fracture (mN), Work to initiation fracture (mJ) and Work to propagate (mJ) compared between life stages and three regions of the stem (the basal portion closest to the rootstock, the middle of the stem, and the apical-most portion of the stem); 3) Stem flexibility: Flexural rigidity (EI) and Young's Modulus (E) compared between life stages and along the length of the stem
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.76hdr7t9v
Description of the data and file structure
- basicmorph: prickle morphological measurements for all stems.
- bending: averaged stem flexibility, as measured using a 3-bending rig, for all stems.
- puncture_use: averaged puncture measurements for all stems.
Files and variables
File: puncture_use.csv
Description: averaged puncture measurements for all stems.
Variables
- specimen: specimen number
- Life_Stage: primocane or floricane
- location: apical, middle, or basal
- F_F: measured force to initiate fracture, measured in ballistics gel in mN
- W_F: calculated work to initiate fracture in ballistics gel, measured in mJ
- W_P: calculated work to propagate fracture an additional 1.5 mm in ballistics gel, measured in mJ
File: bending.csv
Description: averaged stem flexibility, as measured using a 3-bending rig, for all stems
Variables
- speciment: specimen number
- PCT_L: middle of stem segment tested represents what percentage of total stem length
- EGPa: estimate of young's modulus in GPa, caculated using EI and diameter from basicmorph
- EI: calculated flexural rigidity, based on measured force to displace stem 1 mm in 3-point bending in GPam4
- Type: primocane or floricane
- TL: total stem length in mm
File: basicmorph.csv
Description: prickle morphological measurements for all stems
Variables
- Life_Stage: primocane or floricane
- location: which 10 % segment of stem is being measured
- diameter: diameter at middle of stem segment
- Sp_per10cm: prickle density measured as #/10 cm
- Sp_AR: prickle aspect ratio measured as length/width
- Sp_angle: angle of prickle relative to stem
- Sp_length: prickle length in mm