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Abstract Detail



Development and Structure

Caldwell, Morgan [1], Kiss, John Z. [2], Vandenbrink, Joshua [3].

Blue-Light Phototropism of Roots of Seedlings Grown in Simulated Microgravity.

The ability to successfully grow and cultivate plants will play a crucial role as part of bioregenerative life support systems for future exploration of the Moon and Mars. Continued research is needed in order to better understand how gravity and light responses (gravitropism and phototropism, respectively) interact in plants. The relationship between these two environmental cues helps to direct plant growth and development. This research provides a ground-based analogue for spaceflight experiments aimed at understanding phototropic response in the absence of gravity. Here, we use a two-dimensional clinostat to attempt to reproduce the results from a spaceflight experiment. Spaceflight experiments are very costly and cannot be conducted at the same rate as they could be on the ground, necessitating the use of ground-based studies. Clinostats are currently used in ground-based experiments to simulate the microgravity effects of spaceflight by continuously changing the direction of the gravity vector. Investigation of the interaction between gravitropic and phototropic responses was conducted in three Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes, Lansberg wild-type and phytochrome A and phytochrome B mutants. Plants were rotated over a 48 hour period with a directional blue light treatment. The phototropic response or roots to unidirectional blue light was measured. When compared to the phototropic data from true microgravity conditions on board the International Space Station, there was no significant differences (p < 0.05) in the response of Lansberg wild-type, but significant differences (p > 0.05) in the phytochrome A and phytochrome B mutants. Each of these mutants had a smaller average root angle rate of change in the rotated samples compared to the spaceflight samples. These results are important in assessing the suitability of clinorotation as a ground-based analogue to true microgravity experiments.


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1 - University of Mississippi, Biology, 214 Shoemaker Hall, University, MS, 38677, USA
2 - University Of Mississippi, Graduate School, 100 Graduate House, University, MS, 38677, USA
3 - University of Mississippi, Biology, University, MS, 38677, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Development and Structure: Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PDS008
Abstract ID:816
Candidate for Awards:Developmental and Structural Section best poster


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