Mugifumi, a beneficial farm work of adding mechanical stress by treading to wheat and barley seedlings

Plant scientists are now aware that mechanical stresses, such as touching, bending and treading, affect the growth and development of trees and grasses, including crops (Jaffe, 1973; Mitchell and Myers, 1995; Telewski, 2006). However, Japanese farmers have known for centuries of the efficacy of applying a mechanical stress—treading, trampling, or stamping—to the seedlings of autumn-sown wheat and barley, and call this process “mugifumi” [mugifúmi] in Japanese. According to a comprehensive, narrative guidebook written in the 17th century, Japanese farmers enthusiastically treaded seedlings in winter because they empirically knew that treading prevented spindly growth, strengthened the roots to grow and spread, shortened plant height, increased tillers and ear length, and eventually gave a good yield (Anonymous, 1680’s). Japanese researchers at agricultural experiment stations have described the methodology of treading and many quantitative data on its remarkable effects over the last several decades. However, the information on this practice in English has remained scarce, since it had been targeted to local farmers and written in Japanese only. I here attempted to provide an insight into the significance of treading and advocate the importance of further studies with cutting-edge technology to promote a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying mechanosensing and mechanotransduction in crop plants.