Development and gravity sensing of cress roots under microgravity

Bread Wheat in Space Flight: Is There a Difference in Kernel Quality?

Planning long-term space flights necessarily includes issues of providing food for the crew. One of the areas of research is the development of technologies for independent production of food by the crew. Extensive research on lettuce has confirmed that the "space production" of lettuce is not inferior to that on Earth, even in the absence of gravity, but the same deep understanding of the quality of grain crops has not yet been achieved. Therefore, the goal of our work is to establish whether the conditions for growing wheat in outer space without gravity affect the weight and basic parameters of the grain, and whether this leads to increased asymmetry of the kernel and distortion of the starch composition. The objects of the study were wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) kernels of the Super Dwarf cultivar. Of which, 100 kernels matured in outer space conditions in the Lada growth chamber on the International Space Station (ISS), and 85 kernels of the control wheat grown in a similar growth chamber under terrestrial conditions. It has been established that kernels from ISS have significant differences to a smaller extent in weight, area, length, and width of the kernel. However, the kernels under both conditions were predominantly large (the average weight of a kernel in space is 0.0362 g, and in terrestrial conditions-0.0376 g). The hypothesis that the level of fluctuating asymmetry will increase in outer space was not confirmed; significant differences between the options were not proven. In general, the kernels are fairly even (coefficients of variation for the main parameters of the kernel are within 6-12%) and with a low or very low level of asymmetry. The length of starch granules of type A in filled and puny kernels is significantly greater in kernels from ISS than in the control, and in terms of the width of starch granules B and roundness indices, both experimental variants are the same. It can be assumed that the baking qualities of earthly kernels will be slightly higher, since the ratio of type B starch granules to type A is 5-8% higher than on the ISS. Also, the width of the aleurone layer cells in mature kernels was significantly inferior to the result obtained on Earth. The work proposes a new method for establishing the asymmetry of kernels without a traumatic effect (in early works, it was supposed to study asymmetry in transverse sections of the kernels). Perhaps this will make it possible to further develop a computer scanning program that will determine the level of asymmetry of the wheat fruit.

Comprehensive analyses of plant hormones in etiolated pea and maize seedlings grown under microgravity conditions in space: Relevance to the International Space Station experiment "Auxin Transport"

Functional relationships between endogenous levels of plant hormones in the growth and development of shoots in etiolated Alaska pea and etiolated Golden Cross Bantam maize seedlings under different gravities were investigated in the "Auxin Transport" experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Comprehensive analyses of 31 species of plant hormones of pea and maize seedlings grown under microgravity (μg) in space and 1 g conditions were conducted. Principal component analysis (PCA) and a multiple regression analysis with the dataset from the plant hormone analysis of the etiolated pea seedlings grown under μg and 1 g conditions in the presence and absence of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) revealed endogenous levels of auxin correlated positively with bending and length of epicotyls. Endogenous cytokinins correlated negatively with them. These results suggest an interaction of auxin and cytokinins in automorphogenesis and growth inhibition of etiolated Alaska pea epicotyls grown under μg conditions in space. Less polar auxin transport with reduced endogenous levels of auxin increased endogenous levels of cytokinins, resulting in changing the growth direction of epicotyls and inhibiting growth. On the other hand, almost no close relationship between endogenous plant hormone levels and growth and development in etiolated maize seedlings grown was observed under μg conditions in space, as per Schulze et al. (1992). However, endogenous levels of IAA in the seedlings grown under μg conditions in space were significantly higher than those grown on Earth, similar to the cases of polar auxin transport already reported.

Space Breeding: The Next-Generation Crops

Since the beginning of space exploration, researchers have been exploring the role of microgravity, cosmic radiation, and other aspects of the space environment on plant growth and development. To create superior crop varieties and achieve noticeable success in the space environment, several types of research have been conducted thus far. Space-grown plants have been exposed to cosmic radiation and microgravity, which has led to the generation of crop varieties with diverse genotypes and phenotypes arising from different cellular, subcellular, genomic, chromosomal, and biochemical changes. DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations due to cosmic radiation are the major factors responsible for genetic polymorphism and the generation of crops with modified genetic combinations. These changes can be used to produce next-generation crop varieties capable of surviving diverse environmental conditions. This review aims to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanisms and genetic mutations found in plants used in recent space crop projects and how these can be applied in space breeding programmes in the future.

Gravistimulation effects on Oryza sativa amino acid profile, growth pattern and expression of OsPIN genes

Gravity is an important ecological factor regulating plant growth and developmental processes. Here we used various molecular and biochemical approaches to investigate artificial and normal gravistimulation's effect on the early growth stages of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by changing the orientations of Petri dishes. Rate of amino acid formation, root and shoot growth, and OsPIN expression was significantly higher under gravistimulation compared with the control. Clinostat rotation positively affected plant growth and amino acid profile. However, under normal gravity, vertical-oriented seedlings showed high amino acid levels compared with clinostat, 90°-rotated, and control seedlings. Similarly, seedling growth significantly increased with 90°-rotated and vertical orientations. Artificial gravity and exogenous indole-3-acetic acid induced OsPIN1 expression in the roots, root shoot junction, and shoots of clinorotated seedlings. Phenyl acetic acid induced OsPIN1 expression in the roots and root shoot junction of clinorotated seedlings but not in the shoot. The current study suggests that OsPIN1 is differentially regulated and that it might be involved in the regulation of plant growth. Conversely, OsPIN2 and OsPIN3a are gravity sensors and highly induced in the roots and root shoot junctions of vertical and 90°-rotated seedlings and play an important role in stress conditions. Thus, on exposure to gravity, hormones, and UV-C radiation, these genes are highly regulated by jasmonic acid, 6-benzylaminopurine and gibberellic acid.

Microarray profile of gene expression in etiolated Pisum sativum seedlings grown under microgravity conditions in space: Relevance to the International Space Station experiment "Auxin Transport"

This paper introduces the use of microarray data technology with Medicago (Medicago truncatula) microarrays to characterize global changes in the transcript abundance of etiolated Alaska pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings grown under microgravity (µg) conditions in comparison with those under artificial 1 g conditions on the International Space Station. Of the 44,000 genes of the Medicago microarray platform, more than 25,000 transcripts of pea seedlings were hybridized, suggesting that the microarray platform for Medicago could be useful in the study of gene expression of etiolated pea seedlings grown under µg conditions in space. Gene array data were analyzed according to stringent criteria that restricted the scored genes for specific hybridization values at least twofold. Expression of 1362 and 1558 genes in proximal side (the proximal side) and distal side of the epicotyl to the cotyledons (the distal side), respectively, were highly affected by µg conditions in space. Of the genes analyzed, 407 of 1362 transcripts in the proximal side and 740 of 1558 transcripts in the distal side were expressed at ratios at least twofold. However, in the presence of the auxin transport inhibitor TIBA, 212 of 399 transcripts and 255 of 477 transcripts were expressed at ratios at least twofold as high in the proximal and the distal sides of epicotyls in the seedlings grown under µg conditions, respectively. Based on Venn diagram analysis, 31 transcripts and 24 transcripts were found to commonly increase and decrease, respectively, under µg conditions in space. Venn analysis revealed six auxin-related genes and three water channel AQUAPORIN genes that were responsive to gravity. Among 6 auxin-related genes, the accumulation of transcripts of Auxin-induced protein 5NG4 and Indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase GH3.3 tended to increase, and that of Auxin-induced protein, Auxin response factor, SAUR-like auxin-responsive family protein and Auxin response factor tended to decrease under µg conditions, whereas there were no statistic differences between under µg and artificial 1 g conditions. Similarly there were no statistic differences between under µg conditions and artificial 1 g, but the accumulation of NIP3-1 and Plasma membrane intrinsic protein11, and AQUAPORIN1/Tonoplast intrinsic protein tended to increase and decrease, respectively. A possible role of auxin-related genes and AQUAPORIN genes in regulating growth of etiolated pea seedlings grown under µg conditions in space is discussed.

Polar auxin transport is essential to maintain growth and development of etiolated pea and maize seedlings grown under 1 g conditions: Relevance to the international space station experiment

We conducted "Auxin Transport" space experiments in 2016 and 2017 in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) on the International Space Station (ISS), with the principal objective being integrated analyses of the growth and development of etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Alaska) and maize (Zea mays L. cv Golden Cross Bantam) seedlings under true microgravity conditions in space relative to auxin dynamics. Etiolated pea seedlings grown under microgravity conditions in space for 3 days showed automorphogenesis. Epicotyls and roots bent ca. 45° and 20° toward the direction away from the cotyledons, respectively, whereas those grown under artificial 1 g conditions produced by a centrifuge in the Cell Biology Experimental Facility (CBEF) in space showed negative and positive gravitropic response in epicotyls and in roots, respectively. On the other hand, the coleoptiles of 4-day-old etiolated maize seedlings grew almost straight, but the mesocotyls curved and grew toward a random direction under microgravity conditions in space. In contrast, the coleoptiles and mesocotyls of etiolated maize seedlings grown under 1 g conditions on Earth were almost straight and grew upward or toward the direction against the gravity vector. The polar auxin transport activity in etiolated pea epicotyls and in maize shoots was significantly inhibited and enhanced, respectively, under microgravity conditions in space as compared with artificial 1 g conditions in space or 1 g conditions on Earth. An inhibitor of polar auxin transport, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) substantially affected the growth direction and polar auxin transport activity in etiolated pea seedlings grown under both artificial 1 g and microgravity conditions in space. These results strongly suggest that adequate polar auxin transport is essential for gravitropic response in plants. Possible mechanisms enhancing polar auxin transport in etiolated maize seedlings grown under microgravity conditions in space are also proposed.

Morphometric analyses of petioles of seedlings grown in a spaceflight experiment

Gravity is a constant unidirectional stimulus on Earth, and gravitropism in plants involves three phases: perception, transduction, and response. In shoots, perception takes place within the endodermis. To investigate the cellular machinery of perception in microgravity, we conducted a spaceflight study with Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, which were grown in microgravity in darkness using the Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) hardware during space shuttle mission STS-131. In the 14-day-old etiolated plants, we studied seedling development and the morphological parameters of the endodermal cells in the petiole. Seedlings from the spaceflight experiment (FL) were compared to a ground control (GC), which both were in the BRIC flight hardware. In addition, to assay any potential effects from growth in spaceflight hardware, we performed another control by growing seedlings in Petri dishes in standard laboratory conditions (termed the hardware control, HC). Seed germination was significantly lower in samples grown in flight hardware (FL, GC) compared to the HC. In terms of cellular parameters of endodermal cells, the greatest differences also were between seedlings grown in spaceflight hardware (FL, GC) compared to those grown outside of this hardware (HC). Specifically, the endodermal cells were significantly smaller in seedlings grown in the BRIC system compared to those in the HC. However, a change in the shape of the cell, suggesting alterations in the cell wall, was one parameter that appears to be a true microgravity effect. Taken together, our results suggest that caution must be taken when interpreting results from the increasingly utilized BRIC spaceflight hardware system and that it is important to perform additional ground controls to aid in the analysis of spaceflight experiments.

Seed-to-seed-to-seed growth and development of Arabidopsis in microgravity

Arabidopsis thaliana was grown from seed to seed wholly in microgravity on the International Space Station. Arabidopsis plants were germinated, grown, and maintained inside a growth chamber prior to returning to Earth. Some of these seeds were used in a subsequent experiment to successfully produce a second (back-to-back) generation of microgravity-grown Arabidopsis. In general, plant growth and development in microgravity proceeded similarly to those of the ground controls, which were grown in an identical chamber. Morphologically, the most striking feature of space-grown Arabidopsis was that the secondary inflorescence branches and siliques formed nearly perpendicular angles to the inflorescence stems. The branches grew out perpendicularly to the main inflorescence stem, indicating that gravity was the key determinant of branch and silique angle and that light had either no role or a secondary role in Arabidopsis branch and silique orientation. Seed protein bodies were 55% smaller in space seed than in controls, but protein assays showed only a 9% reduction in seed protein content. Germination rates for space-produced seed were 92%, indicating that the seeds developed in microgravity were healthy and viable. Gravity is not necessary for seed-to-seed growth of plants, though it plays a direct role in plant form and may influence seed reserves.

Plant Growth and Morphogenesis under Different Gravity Conditions: Relevance to Plant Life in Space

The growth and morphogenesis of plants are entirely dependent on the gravitational acceleration of earth. Under microgravity conditions in space, these processes are greatly modified. Recent space experiments, in combination with ground-based studies, have shown that elongation growth is stimulated and lateral expansion suppressed in various shoot organs and roots under microgravity conditions. Plant organs also show automorphogenesis in space, which consists of altered growth direction and spontaneous curvature in the dorsiventral (back and front) directions. Changes in cell wall properties are responsible for these modifications of growth and morphogenesis under microgravity conditions. Plants live in space with interesting new sizes and forms.

Analysis of apical hook formation in Alaska pea with a 3-D clinostat and agravitropic mutant ageotropum

The formation of the apical hook in dicotyledonous seedlings is believed to be effected by gravity in the dark. However, this notion is mostly based on experiments with the hook formed on the hypocotyl, and no detailed studies are available with the developmental manners of the hook, particularly of the epicotyl hook. The present study aims at clarifying the dynamics of hook formation including the possible involvement of gravity. Time-course studies with normal Alaska pea (Pisum sativum L., cv. Alaska) and an agravitropic pea mutant, ageotropum, under the 1-g conditions and on a 3-D clinostat revealed that (1) the apical hook of the epicotyl forms by the development of the arc-shaped plumule of the embryo existing in the non-germinated seed. The process of formation consists of two stages: development and partial opening, which are controlled by some intrinsic property of the plumule, but not gravity. Approximately when the epicotyl emerges from the seed coat, the hook is established in both pea varieties. In Alaska the established hook is sustained or enhanced by gravity, resulting in a delay of hook opening compared with on a clinostat, which might give an incorrect idea that gravity causes hook formation. (2) During the hook development and opening processes the original plumular arc holds its orientation unchanged to be an established hook, which, therefore, is at the same side of the epicotyl axis as the cotyledons. This is true for both Alaska and ageotropum under 1-g conditions as well as on the clinostat, supporting finding (1). (3) Application of auxin polar transport inhibitors, hydroxyfluorenecarboxylic acid, naphthylphthalamic acid, and triiodobenzoic acid, suppressed the curvature of hook by equal extents in Alaska as well as ageotropum, suggesting that the hook development involves auxin polar transport probably asymmetrically distributed across the plumular axis by some intrinsic property of the plumule not directly related with gravity action.

Gravity-dependent differentiation and root coils in Arabidopsis thaliana wild type and phospholipase-A-I knockdown mutant grown on the International Space Station

Arabidopsis roots on 45° tilted agar in 1-g grow in wave-like figures. In addition to waves, formation of root coils is observed in several mutants compromised in gravitropism and/or auxin transport. The knockdown mutant ppla-I-1 of patatin-related phospholipase-A-I is delayed in root gravitropism and forms increased numbers of root coils. Three known factors contribute to waving: circumnutation, gravisensing and negative thigmotropism. In microgravity, deprivation of wild type (WT) and mutant roots of gravisensing and thigmotropism and circumnutation (known to slow down in microgravity, and could potentially lead to fewer waves or increased coiling in both WT and mutant). To resolve this, mutant ppla-I-1 and WT were grown in the BIOLAB facility in the International Space Station. In 1-g, roots of both types only showed waving. In the first experiment in microgravity, the mutant after 9 days formed far more coils than in 1-g but the WT also formed several coils. After 24 days in microgravity, in both types the coils were numerous with slightly more in the mutant. In the second experiment, after 9 days in microgravity only the mutant formed coils and the WT grew arcuated roots. Cell file rotation (CFR) on the mutant root surface in microgravity decreased in comparison to WT, and thus was not important for coiling. Several additional developmental responses (hypocotyl elongation, lateral root formation, cotyledon expansion) were found to be gravity-influenced. We tentatively discuss these in the context of disturbances in auxin transport, which are known to decrease through lack of gravity.

Plant cell gravisensitivity and adaptation to microgravity

A short overview on the effects of real and simulated microgravity on certain cell components and processes, including new information obtained recently, is presented. Attention is focused on the influence of real and simulated microgravity on plant cells that are not specialised to gravity perception and on seed formation. The paper considers the possibility of full adaptation of plants to microgravity, and suggests some questions for future plant research in order to make decisions on fundamental and applied problems of plant space biology.

Close relationships between polar auxin transport and graviresponse in plants

Gravitational force on Earth is one of the major environmental factors affecting plant growth and development. Spacecraft and the International Space Station (ISS), and a three-dimensional (3-D) clinostat have been available to clarify the effects of gravistimulation on plant growth and development in space and on ground conditions, respectively. Under a stimulus-free environment such as space conditions, plants show a growth and developmental habit designated as 'automorphosis' or 'automorphogenesis'. Recent studies in hormonal physiology, together with space and molecular biology, have demonstrated the close relationships between automorphosis and polar auxin transport. Reduced polar auxin transport in space conditions, or induced by the application of polar auxin transport inhibitors, substantially induced automorphosis or automorphosis-like growth and development, indicating that polar auxin transport is responsible for graviresponse in plants. This concise review covers graviresponse in plants and automorphosis observed in space conditions, and polar auxin transport related to graviresponse in etiolated Alaska and ageotropum pea seedlings. Molecular aspects of polar auxin transport clarified in recent studies are also described.

Fundamental plant biology enabled by the space shuttle

The relationship between fundamental plant biology and space biology was especially synergistic in the era of the Space Shuttle. While all terrestrial organisms are influenced by gravity, the impact of gravity as a tropic stimulus in plants has been a topic of formal study for more than a century. And while plants were parts of early space biology payloads, it was not until the advent of the Space Shuttle that the science of plant space biology enjoyed expansion that truly enabled controlled, fundamental experiments that removed gravity from the equation. The Space Shuttle presented a science platform that provided regular science flights with dedicated plant growth hardware and crew trained in inflight plant manipulations. Part of the impetus for plant biology experiments in space was the realization that plants could be important parts of bioregenerative life support on long missions, recycling water, air, and nutrients for the human crew. However, a large part of the impetus was that the Space Shuttle enabled fundamental plant science essentially in a microgravity environment. Experiments during the Space Shuttle era produced key science insights on biological adaptation to spaceflight and especially plant growth and tropisms. In this review, we present an overview of plant science in the Space Shuttle era with an emphasis on experiments dealing with fundamental plant growth in microgravity. This review discusses general conclusions from the study of plant spaceflight biology enabled by the Space Shuttle by providing historical context and reviews of select experiments that exemplify plant space biology science.

Plant cell proliferation and growth are altered by microgravity conditions in spaceflight

Seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana were sent to space and germinated in orbit. Seedlings grew for 4d and were then fixed in-flight with paraformaldehyde. The experiment was replicated on the ground in a Random Positioning Machine, an effective simulator of microgravity. In addition, samples from a different space experiment, processed in a similar way but fixed in glutaraldehyde, including a control flight experiment in a 1g centrifuge, were also used. In all cases, comparisons were performed with ground controls at 1g. Seedlings grown in microgravity were significantly longer than the ground 1g controls. The cortical root meristematic cells were analyzed to investigate the alterations in cell proliferation and cell growth. Proliferation rate was quantified by counting the number of cells per millimeter in the specific cell files, and was found to be higher in microgravity-grown samples than in the control 1g. Cell growth was appraised through the rate of ribosome biogenesis, assessed by morphological and morphometrical parameters of the nucleolus and by the levels of the nucleolar protein nucleolin. All these parameters showed a depletion of the rate of ribosome production in microgravity-grown samples versus samples grown at 1g. The results show that growth in microgravity induces alterations in essential cellular functions. Cell growth and proliferation, which are strictly associated functions under normal ground conditions, appeared divergent after gravity modification; proliferation was enhanced, whereas growth was depleted. We suggest that the cause of these changes could be an alteration in the cell cycle regulation, at the levels of checkpoints regulating cell cycle progression, leading to a shortened G2 period.

Gravisensitivity and automorphogenesis of lentil seedling roots grown on board the International Space Station

The GRAVI-1 experiment was brought on board the International Space Station by Discovery (December 2006) and carried out in January 2007 in the European Modular Cultivation System facility. For the first run of this experiment, lentil seedlings were hydrated and grown in microgravity for 15 h and then subjected for 13 h 40 min to centrifugal accelerations ranging from 0.29 x 10(-2) g to 0.99 x 10(-2) g. During the second run, seedlings were grown either for 30 h 30 min in microgravity (this sample was the control) or for 21 h 30 min and then subjected to centrifugal accelerations ranging from 1.2 x 10(-2) g to 2.0 x 10(-2) g for 9 h. In both cases, root orientation and root curvature were followed by time-lapse photography. Still images were downlinked in near real time to ground Norwegian User Support and Operations Center during the experiment. The position of the root tip and the root curvature were analyzed as a function of time. It has been shown that in microgravity, the embryonic root curved strongly away from the cotyledons (automorphogenesis) and then straightened out slowly from 17 to 30 h following hydration (autotropism). Because of the autotropic straightening of roots in microgravity, their tip was oriented at an angle close to the optimal angle of curvature (120 degrees -135 degrees ) for a period of 2 h during centrifugation. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that lentil roots grown in microgravity before stimulation were more sensitive than roots grown in 1 g. In these conditions, the threshold acceleration perceived by these organs was found to be between 0 and 2.0 x 10(-3) g and estimated punctually at 1.4 x 10(-5) g by using the hyperbolic model for fitting the experimental data and by assuming that autotropism had no or little impact on the gravitropic response. Gravisensing by statoliths should be possible at such a low level of acceleration because the actomyosin system could provide the necessary work to overcome the activation energy for gravisensing.

Automorphosis of etiolated pea seedlings in space is simulated by a three-dimensional clinostat and the application of inhibitors of auxin polar transport

Etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) seedlings grown under microgravity conditions in space show automorphosis: bending of epicotyls, inhibition of hook formation and changes in root growth direction. In order to determine the mechanisms of microgravity conditions that induce automorphosis, we used a three-dimensional clinostat and obtained the successful induction of automorphosis-like growth of etiolated pea seedlings. Kinetic studies revealed that epicotyls bent at their basal region towards the clockwise direction far from the cotyledons from the vertical line (0 degrees) at approximately 40 degrees in seedlings grown both at 1 g and in the clinostat within 48 h after watering. Thereafter, epicotyls retained this orientation during growth in the clinostat, whereas those at 1 g changed their growth direction against the gravity vector and exhibited a negative gravitropic response. On the other hand, the plumular hook that had already formed in the embryo axis tended to open continuously by growth at the inner basal portion of the elbow; thus, the plumular hook angle initially increased; this was followed by equal growth on the convex and concave sides at 1 g, resulting in normal hook formation; in contrast, hook formation was inhibited on the clinostat. The automorphosis-like growth and development of etiolated pea seedlings was induced by auxin polar transport inhibitors (9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylic acid, N-(1-naphthyl)phthalamic acid and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid), but not by anti-auxin (p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid) at 1 g. An ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, 1-aminooxyacetic acid, inhibited hook formation at 1 g, and ethylene production of etiolated seedlings was suppressed on the clinostat. Clinorotation on the clinostat strongly reduced the activity of auxin polar transport of epicotyls in etiolated pea seedlings, similar to that observed in space experiments (Ueda J, Miyamoto K, Yuda T, Hoshino T, Fujii S, Mukai C, Kamigaichi S, Aizawa S, Yoshizaki I, Shimazu T, Fukui K (1999) Growth and development, and auxin polar transport in higher plants under microgravity conditions in space: BRIC-AUX on STS-95 space experiment. J Plant Res 112: 487492). These results suggest that clinorotation on a three-dimensional clinostat is a valuable tool for simulating microgravity conditions, and that automorphosis of etiolated pea seedlings is induced by the inhibition of auxin polar transport and ethylene biosynthesis.

Gravitropic moss cells default to spiral growth on the clinostat and in microgravity during spaceflight

In addition to shoots and roots, the gravity (g)-vector orients the growth of specialized cells such as the apical cell of dark-grown moss protonemata. Each apical cell of the moss Ceratodon purpureus senses the g-vector and adjusts polar growth accordingly producing entire cultures of upright protonemata (negative gravitropism). The effect of withdrawing a constant gravity stimulus on moss growth was studied on two NASA Space Shuttle (STS) missions as well as during clinostat rotation on earth. Cultures grown in microgravity (spaceflight) on the STS-87 mission exhibited two successive phases of non-random growth and patterning, a radial outgrowth followed by the formation of net clockwise spiral growth. Also, cultures pre-aligned by unilateral light developed clockwise hooks during the subsequent dark period. The second spaceflight experiment flew on STS-107 which disintegrated during its descent on 1 February 2003. However, most of the moss experimental hardware was recovered on the ground, and most cultures, which had been chemically fixed during spaceflight, were retrieved. Almost all intact STS-107 cultures displayed strong spiral growth. Non-random culture growth including clockwise spiral growth was also observed after clinostat rotation. Together these data demonstrate the existence of default non-random growth patterns that develop at a population level in microgravity, a response that must normally be overridden and masked by a constant g-vector on earth.

Development of the primary root and mobilisation of reserves in etiolated seedlings of Brassica napus grown on a slowly rotating clinostat

The effect of the slow rotating clinostat (1 rpm) on the growth of the primary root was studied on Brassica napus seedlings. After 5 d in darkness, the primary root was longer and thinner in seedlings grown on the clinostat than in seedlings grown in the vertical position. However, the breakdown of lipid reserves, sucrose level and transport of 14C-labeled sucrose from the cotyledons to the primary root, were not altered by growth on the clinostat. Moreover, the activity of isocitrate lyase, one of the two enzymes necessary for the conversion of lipids into glucids also was also not modified in the cotyledons of clinorotated seedlings. Thus, there was clear evidence that clinorotation had a direct effect on the growth of the primary root that was independent of the mobilisation of lipid reserves in the cotyledons. As a sink, the primary root had the same strength on the clinostat as in the vertical position, but the reserves were used in a different way. The increase in root elongation on the clinostat could be due to the slight, but continuous, omnilateral gravitropic stimulation due to the rotation of the seedlings about a horizontal axis.

Calcium signaling in plant cells in altered gravity

Changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in altered gravity (microgravity and clinostating) evidence that Ca2+ signaling can play a fundamental role in biological effects of microgravity. Calcium as a second messenger is known to play a crucial role in stimulus-response coupling for many plant cellular signaling pathways. Its messenger functions are realized by transient changes in the cytosolic ion concentration induced by a variety of internal and external stimuli such as light, hormones, temperature, anoxia, salinity, and gravity. Although the first data on the changes in the calcium balance in plant cells under the influence of altered gravity have appeared in 80th, a review highlighting the performed research and the possible significance of such Ca2+ changes in the structural and metabolic rearrangements of plant cells in altered gravity is still lacking. In this paper, an attempt was made to summarize the available experimental results and to consider some hypotheses in this field of research. It is proposed to distinguish between cell gravisensing and cell graviperception; the former is related to cell structure and metabolism stability in the gravitational field and their changes in microgravity (cells not specialized to gravity perception), the latter is related to active use of a gravitational stimulus by cells presumebly specialized to gravity perception for realization of normal space orientation, growth, and vital activity (gravitropism, gravitaxis) in plants. The main experimental data concerning both redistribution of free Ca2+ ions in plant cell organelles and the cell wall, and an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration under the influence of altered gravity are presented. Based on the gravitational decompensation hypothesis, the consequence of events occurring in gravisensing cells not specialized to gravity perception under altered gravity are considered in the following order: changes in the cytoplasmic membrane surface tension --> alterations in the physicochemical properties of the membrane --> changes in membrane permeability, ion transport, membrane-bound enzyme activity, etc. --> metabolism rearrangements --> physiological responses. An analysis of data available on biological effects of altered gravity at the cellular level allows one to conclude that microgravity environment appears to affect cytoskeleton, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, cell wall biogenesis via changes in enzyme activity and protein expression, with involvement of regulatory Ca2+ messenger system. Changes in Ca2+ influx/efflux and possible pathways of Ca2+ signaling in plant cell biochemical regulation in altered gravity are discussed.

New aspects of gravity responses in plant cells

Plants show two distinct responses to gravity: gravity-dependent morphogenesis (gravimorphogenesis) and gravity resistance. In gravitropism, a typical mechanism of gravimorphogenesis, gravity is utilized as a signal to establish an appropriate form. The response has been studied in a gravity-free environment, where plant seedlings were found to perform spontaneous morphogenesis, termed automorphogenesis. Automorphogenesis consists of a change in growth direction and spontaneous curvature in dorsiventral directions. The spontaneous curvature is caused by a difference in the capacity of the cell wall to expand between the dorsal and the ventral sides of organs, which originates from the inherent structural anisotropy. Gravity resistance is a response that enables the plant to develop against the gravitational force. To resist the force, the plant constructs a tough body by increasing the cell wall rigidity that suppresses growth. The mechanical properties of the cell wall are changed by modification of the cell wall metabolism and cell wall environment, especially pH. In gravitropism, gravity is perceived by amyloplasts in statocytes, whereas gravity resistance may be mediated by mechanoreceptors on the plasma membrane.

Plant Reproductive Development during Spaceflight

Reproductive development in microgravity has now been studied in a variety of plants; Arabidopsis, Brassica, and Triticum have been especially well studied. Earlier indications that gravity might be required for some stage of reproductive development have now been refuted. Nevertheless, the spaceflight environment presents many unique challenges that have often compromised the ability of plants to reproduce. These include limitations in hardware design to compensate for the unique environmental characteristics of microgravity, especially absence of convective air movement. Pollen development has been shown to be sensitive to high concentrations of ethylene prevailing on various orbital platforms. Barring these gross environmental problems, androecium and gynoecium development occur normally in microgravity, in that functional propagules are produced. Nonetheless, qualitative changes in anther and pistil development have been shown, and significant qualitative changes occur in storage reserve deposition during seed development. Apart from the intrinsic biological importance of these results, consequences of diminished seed quality when plants are grown in the absence of gravity will detract from the utility of plant-based life support systems. By understanding gravity's role in determining the microenvironments that prevail during reproductive development, counter-measures to these obstacles can be found, while at the same time providing basic knowledge that will have broader agricultural significance.

Biological damage induced by ionizing cosmic rays in dry Arabidopsis seeds

In September 1987 dry seeds containing embryos of the crucifer plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, were flown in orbit for 13 days on the Kosmos 1887 satellite. The seeds were fixed on CNd detectors and stored in units of Biorack type I/O. One unit was exposed inside, another one outside the satellite. The temperature profile of the flown seeds inside the satellite was simulated on earth in an identical backup control sample (BC). An additional control (SC) was studied with the original seeds sample. By use of the CNd-detector, HZE-tracks were measured with a PC-assisted microscope. The biological damages were investigated by growing the seeds under controlled climatic conditions. The following biological endpoints of the cosmic radiation damage were studied: germination, radicle length, sublethality, morphological aberrations, flower development, tumorization, embryo lethality inside the siliques. The summarized damage (D) and the mutation frequencies of embyronic lethal genes were calculated. The following results were obtained: the damages increase significantly in orbit at all biological endpoints; germination and fiowerings especially, as well as embryo lethality of fruits and lethal mutation frequency, were maximum mostly for HZE-hit seeds. Additionally, an increase of damage was observed for the seeds of the outside-exposed Biorack in comparison to the inside ones, which was probably caused by less radiation shielding and free space vacuum. The significance of the results obtained is discussed with respect to stress and risk and, thus, the quality of the RBE-factors and heavy ionizing radiation all needed for the very definition of radiation protection standards in space.

Leaf senescence under various gravity conditions: relevance to the dynamics of plant hormones

Effects of simulated microgravity and hypergravity on the senescence of oat leaf segments excised from the primary leaves of 8-d-old green seedlings were studied using a 3-dimensional (D) clinostat as a simulator of weightlessness and a centrifuge, respectively. During the incubation with water under 1-g conditions at 25 degrees C in the dark, the loss of chlorophyll of the segments was found dramatically immediately after leaf excision, and leaf color completely turned to yellow after 3-d to 4-d incubation. In this case kinetin (10 micromolar) was effective in retarding senescence. The application of simulated microgravity conditions on a 3-D clinostat enhanced chlorophyll loss in the presence or absence of kinetin. The loss of chlorophyll was also enhanced by hypergravity conditions (ca. 8 to 16 g), but the effect was smaller than that of simulated microgravity conditions on the clinostat. Jasmonates (JAs) and abscisic acid (ABA) promoted senescence under simulated microgravity conditions on the clinostat as well as under 1-g conditions. After 2-d incubation with water or 5-d incubation with kinetin, the endogenous levels of JAs and ABA of the segments kept under simulated microgravity conditions on the clinostat remained higher than those kept under 1-g conditions. These findings suggest that physiological processes of leaf senescence and the dynamics of endogenous plant hormone levels are substantially affected by gravity.

Automorphogenesis and gravitropism of plant seedlings grown under microgravity conditions

Plant seedlings exhibit automorphogenesis on clinostats. The occurrence of automorphogenesis was confirmed under microgravity in Space Shuttle STS-95 flight. Rice coleoptiles showed an inclination toward the caryopsis in the basal region and a spontaneous curvature in the same adaxial direction in the elongating region both on a three-dimensional (3-D) clinostat and in space. Both rice roots and Arabidopsis hypocotyls also showed a similar morphology in space and on the 3-D clinostat. In rice coleoptiles, the mechanisms inducing such an automorphic curvature were studied. The faster-expanding convex side of rice coleoptiles showed a higher extensibility of the cell wall than the opposite side. Also, in the convex side, the cell wall thickness was smaller, the turnover of the matrix polysaccharides was more active, and the microtubules oriented more transversely than the concave side, and these differences appear to be causes of the curvature. When rice coleoptiles grown on the 3-D clinostat were placed horizontally, the gravitropic curvature was delayed as compared with control coleoptiles. In clinostatted coleoptiles, the corresponding suppression of the amyloplast development was also observed. Similar results were obtained in Arabidopsis hypocotyls. Thus, the induction of automorphogenesis and a concomitant decrease in graviresponsiveness occurred in plant shoots grown under microgravity conditions.

Growth and development in higher plants under simulated microgravity conditions on a 3-dimensional clinostat

Growth and development of etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) and maize (Zea mays L. cv. Golden Cross Bantam) seedlings grown under simulated microgravity conditions were intensively studied using a 3-dimensional clinostat as a simulator of weightlessness. Epicotyls of etiolated pea seedlings grown on the clinostat were the most oriented toward the direction far from cotyledons. Mesocotyls of etiolated maize seedlings grew at random and coleoptiles curved slightly during clinostat rotation. Clinostat rotation promoted the emergence of the 3rd internodes in etiolated pea seedlings, while it significantly inhibited the growth of the 1st internodes. In maize seedlings, the growth of coleoptiles was little affected by clinostat rotation, but that of mesocotyls was suppressed, and therefore, the emergence of the leaf out of coleoptile was promoted. Clinostat rotation reduced the osmotic concentration in the 1st internodes of pea seedlings, although it has little effect on the 2nd and the 3rd internodes. Clinostat rotation also reduced the osmotic concentrations in both coleoptiles and mesocotyls of maize seedlings. Cell-wall extensibilities of the 1st and the 3rd internodes of pea seedlings grown on the clinostat were significantly lower and higher as compared with those on 1 g conditions, respectively. Cell-wall extensibility of mesocotyls in seedlings grown on the clinostat also decreased. Changes in cell wall properties seem to be well correlated to the growth of each organ in pea and maize seedlings. These results suggest that the growth and development of plants is controlled under gravity on earth, and that the growth responses of higher plants to microgravity conditions are regulated by both cell-wall mechanical properties and osmotic properties of stem cells.

Plant cells on earth and in space

Two quite different types of plant cells are analysed with regard to transduction of the gravity stimulus: (i) Unicellular rhizoids and protonemata of characean green algae; these are tube-like, tip-growing cells which respond to the direction of gravity. (ii) Columella cells located in the center of the root cap of higher plants; these cells (statocytes) perceive gravity. The two cell types contain heavy particles or organelles (statoliths) which sediment in the field of gravity, thereby inducing the graviresponse. Both cell types were studied under microgravity conditions (10(-4) g) in sounding rockets or spacelabs. From video microscopy of living Chara cells and different experiments with both cell types it was concluded that the position of statoliths depends on the balance of two forces, i.e. the gravitational force and the counteracting force mediated by actin microfilaments. The actomyosin system may be the missing link between the gravity-dependent movement of statoliths and the gravity receptor(s); it may also function as an amplifier.

STS-95 space experiment for plant growth and development, and auxin polar transport

The principal objective of the space experiment, BRIC-AUX on STS-95, was the integrated analysis of the growth and development of etiolated pea and maize seedlings in space, and the effect of microgravity conditions in space on auxin polar transport in the segments. Microgravity conditions in space strongly affected the growth and development of etiolated pea and maize seedlings. Etiolated pea and maize seedlings were leaned and curved during space flight, respectively. Finally the growth inhibition of these seedlings was also observed. Roots of some pea seedlings grew toward the aerial space of Plant Growth Chamber. Extensibilities of cell walls of the third internode of etiolated pea epicotyls and the top region of etiolated maize coleoptiles which were germinated and grown under microgravity conditions in space were significantly low. Activities of auxin polar transport in the second internode segments of etiolated pea seedlings and coleoptile segments of etiolated maize seedlings were significantly inhibited and extremely promoted, respectively, under microgravity conditions in space. These results strongly suggest that auxin polar transport as well as the growth and development of plants is controlled under gravity on the earth.

The influence of microgravity and spaceflight on columella cell ultrastructure in starch-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis

The ultrastructure of root cap columella cells was studied by morphometric analysis in wild-type, a reduced-starch mutant, and a starchless mutant of Arabidopsis grown in microgravity (F-microgravity) and compared to ground 1g (G-1g) and flight 1g (F-1g) controls. Seedlings of the wild-type and reduced-starch mutant that developed during an experiment on the Space Shuttle (both the F-microgravity samples and the F-lg control) exhibited a decreased starch content in comparison to the G-1g control. These results suggest that some factor associated with spaceflight (and not microgravity per se) affects starch metabolism. Elevated levels of ethylene were found during the experiments on the Space Shuttle, and analysis of ground controls with added ethylene demonstrated that this gas was responsible for decreased starch levels in the columella cells. This is the first study to use an on-board centrifuge as a control when quantifying starch in spaceflight-grown plants. Furthermore, our results show that ethylene levels must be carefully considered and controlled when designing experiments with plants for the International Space Station.

Statoliths motions in gravity-perceiving plant cells: does actomyosin counteract gravity?

Statocytes from plant root caps are characterized by a polar arrangement of cell organelles and sedimented statoliths. Cortical microtubules and actin microfilaments contribute to development and maintenance of this polarity, whereas the lack of endoplasmic microtubules and prominent bundles of actin microfilaments probably facilitates sedimentation of statoliths. High-resolution video microscopy shows permanent motion of statoliths even when sedimented. After immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against actin and myosin II the most prominent labeling was observed at and around sedimented statoliths. Experiments under microgravity have demonstrated that the positioning of statoliths depends on the external gravitational force and on internal forces, probably exerted by the actomyosin complex, and that transformation of the gravistimulus evidently occurs in close vicinity to the statoliths. These results suggest that graviperception occurs dynamically within the cytoplasm via small-distance sedimentation rather than statically at the lowermost site of sedimentation. It is hypothesized that root cap cells are comparing randomized motions with oriented motions of statoliths and thereby perceiving gravity.

Changes in hormonal balance and meristematic activity in primary root tips on the slowly rotating clinostat and their effect on the development of the rapeseed root system

The morphometry of the root system, the meristematic activity and the level of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA) and zeatin in the primary root tips of rapeseed seedlings were analyzed as functions of time on a slowly rotating clinostat (1 rpm) or in the vertical controls (1 rpm). The fresh weight of the root system was 30% higher throughout the growth period (25 days) in clinorotated seedlings. Morphometric analysis showed that the increase in biomass on the clinostat was due to greater primary root growth, earlier initiation and greater elongation of the secondary roots, which could be observed even in 5-day-old seedlings. However, after 15 days, the growth of the primary root slowed on the clinostat, whereas secondary roots still grew faster in clinorotated plants than in the controls. At this time, the secondary roots began to be initiated closer to the root tip on the clinostat than in the control. Analysis of the meristematic activity and determination of the levels in IAA, ABA and zeatin in the primary root tips demonstrated that after 5 days on the clinostat, the increased length of the primary root could be the consequence of higher meristematic activity and coincided with an increase in both IAA and ABA concentrations. After 15 days on the clinostat, a marked increase in IAA, ABA and zeatin, which probably reached supraoptimal levels, seems to cause a progressive disturbance of the meristematic cells, during a decrease of primary root growth between 15 and 25 days. These modifications in the hormonal balance and the perturbation of the meristematic activity on the clinostat were followed by a loss of apical dominance, which was responsible for the early initiation of secondary roots, the greater elongation of the root system and the emergence of the lateral roots near the tip of the primary root.

Cell growth and organ differentiation in cultured tobacco cells under spaceflight condition

The responses of cultured tobacco cells to microgravity were examined. Cultured tobacco cells grew and regenerated shoots under microgravity conditions. However, such growth, especially of stems, was much more heterogeneous than that in the ground control, and the increase in fresh weight of the flight samples was less than that of ground control. In addition, multiple shoot formation was not observed in flight samples. Microscopic observation showed that the meristem of regenerating shoot under microgravity was smaller than that in the ground control. Electron microscopy showed that chloroplasts in the ground control were slightly more developed than those in flight samples and extensive arrays of microtubules were more evident in ground control than in flight samples. Analyses of enzymes involved in primary and secondary metabolism indicated that callus grown on shoot regeneration medium under microgravity conditions had a much lower activity of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase, which is involved in lignin biosynthesis, than those grown on Earth. In addition, two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis analysis of 35S-labeled proteins suggested that gene expression in the flight samples may be similar to that in the ground control.

Autonomic straightening after gravitropic curvature of cress roots

Few studies have documented the response of gravitropically curved organs to a withdrawal of a constant gravitational stimulus. The effects of stimulus withdrawal on gravitropic curvature were studied by following individual roots of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) through reorientation and clinostat rotation. Roots turned to the horizontal curved down 62 degrees and 88 degrees after 1 and 5 h, respectively. Subsequent rotation on a clinostat for 6 h resulted in root straightening through a loss of gravitropic curvature in older regions and through new growth becoming aligned closer to the prestimulus vertical. However, these roots did not return completely to the prestimulus vertical, indicating the retention of some gravitropic response. Clinostat rotation shifted the mean root angle -36 degrees closer to the prestimulus vertical, regardless of the duration of prior horizontal stimulation. Control roots (no horizontal stimulation) were slanted at various angles after clinostat rotation. These findings indicate that gravitropic curvature is not necessarily permanent, and that the root retains some commitment to its equilibrium orientation prior to gravitropic stimulation.

Development and growth of potato tubers in microgravity

A potato explant consisting of a leaf, its axillary bud, and a small segment of stem will develop a tuber in 10-14 days when grown on earth. The tubers develop from the axillary buds and accumulate starch derived from sugars produced through photosynthesis and/or mobilized from leaf tissue. Potato explants were harvested and maintained in the Astroculture (TM) unit, a plant growth chamber designed for spaceflight. The unit provides an environment with controlled temperature, humidity, CO2 level, light intensity, and a nutrient delivery system. The hardware was loaded onto the space shuttle Columbia 24 hours prior to the launch of the STS-73 mission. Explant leaf tissue appeared turgid and green for the first 11 days of flight, but then became chlorotic and eventually necrotic by the end of the mission. The same events occurred to ground control explants with approximately the same timing. At the end of the 16-day mission, tubers were present on each explant. The size and shape of the space-grown tubers were similar to the ground-control tubers. The arrangement of cells in the tuber interior and at the exterior in the periderm was similar in both environments. Starch and protein were present in the tubers grown in space and on the ground. The range in starch grain size was similar in tubers from both environments, but the distribution of grains into size classes differed somewhat, with the space-grown tubers having more small grains than the ground control tubers. Proteinaceous crystals were found in tubers formed in each condition.

Plant reproduction systems in microgravity: experimental data and hypotheses

Elucidation of the possibilities for higher plants to realize complete ontogenesis, from seed to seed, and to propagate by seeds in microgravity, is a fundamental task of space biology connected with the working of the CELSS program. At present, there are results of only 6 spaceflight experiments with Arabidopsis thaliana, an ephemeral plant which will flower and fruit in orbit. Morphogenesis of generative organs occurs normally in microgravity, but unlike the ground control, buds and flowers mainly contain sterile elements of the androecium and gynoecium which degenerate at different stages of development in microgravity. Cytological peculiarities of male and female sterility in microgravity are similar to those occurring naturally during sexual differentiation. Many of the seed formed in microgravity do not contain embryos. Hypotheses to explain abnormal reproductive development in microgravity are: 1) nutritional deficiency, 2) insufficient light, 3) intensification of the influence of the above-mentioned factors by microgravity, 4) disturbances of a hormonal nature, and 5) the absence of pollination and fertilization. Possible ways for testing these hypotheses and obtaining viable seeds in microgravity are discussed.

Gravisensitivity of cress roots

The minimum dose (stimulus x time [gs]) eliciting a visible gravitropic response, has been determined using continuous and intermittent stimulation and two different accelerations at 1 g and 0.l g. The minimum dose of 20-30 gs estimated for microgravity roots and of 50-60 gs for roots grown on a 1 g-centrifuge indicated a higher sensitivity of microgravity roots. Applying intermittent stimuli to microgravity-grown roots, gravitropic responses were observed after two stimuli of 13.5 gs separated by a stimulus free interval of 118 s. The curvature of microgravity-grown roots to lateral stimulation by 0.1 g was remarkably smaller than by 1g in spite of the same doses which were applied to the seedlings. Microscopic investigations corresponding to stimulations in the range of the threshold values, demonstrated small displacement (< 2 micrometers) of statoliths in root statocytes. Accepting the statolith theory, one can conclude that stimulus transformation has to occur in the cytoplasm in close vicinity to the statoliths and that this transformation system was affected during seedling cultivation in microgravity.

Automorphosis of higher plants on a 3-D clinostat

On a three-dimensional (3-D) clinostat, various plant organs developed statocytes capable of responding to the gravity vector. The graviresponse of primary roots of garden cress and maize grown on the clinostat was the same as the control roots, whereas that of maize coleoptiles was reduced. When maize seedlings were grown in the presence of 10(-4) M gibberellic acid and kinetin, the graviresponse of both roots and shoots was suppressed. The corresponding suppression of amyloplast development was observed in the clinostatted and the hormone-treated seedlings. Maize roots and shoots showed spontaneous curvatures in different portions on the 3-D clinostat. The hormone treatment did not significantly influence such an automorphic curvature. When the root cap was removed, maize roots did not curve gravitropically. However, the removal suppressed the automorphic curvatures only slightly. On the other hand, the removal of coleoptile tip did not influence its graviresponse, whereas the spontaneous curvature of decapitated coleoptiles on the clinostat was strongly suppressed. Also, cytochalasin B differently affected the gravitropic and the automorphic curvatures of maize roots and shoots. From these results it is concluded that the graviperception and the early processes of signal transmission are unnecessary for automorphoses under simulated microgravity conditions. Moreover, the results support the view that the amyloplasts act as statoliths probably via an interaction with microfilaments.

Biology of plant cells in microgravity and under clinostating

Experimental data on plant cell reproduction, growth, and differentiation in spaceflight and under clinostating that partially reproduce the biological effects of microgravity are elucidated. The rearrangements of organelle structural and functional organization in unicellular plant organisms as well as in meristematic, differentiating, and differentiated cells of multicellular organisms in these conditions are considered. The focus is on the changes in the interrelations of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms under altered gravity. Ideas on the acceleration of differentiation and aging of cells in microgravity and clinostating and the organism's adaptive possibilities for carrying out its own functions are discussed.

Gravisensitivity of cress roots: investigations of threshold values under specific conditions of sensor physiology in microgravity

The minimum dose (dose = stimulus x time), one of three threshold values related to gravity, was determined under microgravity conditions for cress roots. Seedlings were cultivated on a 1g centrifuge in orbit and under microgravity, respectively. After continuous stimulation on a threshold centrifuge, minimum doses of 20-30 gs for microgravity roots and 50-60 gs for roots grown on a 1g centrifuge were estimated, which indicated that microgravity roots have a higher sensitivity than 1g roots. These results do not confirm the threshold value of 12gs which was determined for cress roots using the slow rotating clinostat. Following application of intermittent stimuli to microgravity-grown roots, gravitropic responses were observed after two stimuli of 13.5 gs separated by a stimulus-free interval of 118s. Generally, this demonstrates that higher plants are able to 'sum up' stimuli which are below the threshold value. Microscopic investigations of the cellular structure corresponding to stimulations in the range of the threshold value demonstrated a small displacement of statoliths in root statocytes. No significant correlation was observed between gravitropic curvature and statolith displacement. If the statolith theory is accepted, it can be concluded that stimulus transformation must occur in the cytoplasm in the near vicinity of the statoliths and that this transformation system--probably involving cytoskeletal elements--must have been affected during microgravity seedling cultivation.

Fixation procedure for transmission electron microscopy of Chara rhizoids under microgravity in a Spacelab (IML-2)

A special fixation device and fixation procedure have been developed to investigate for the first time the ultrastructure of gravity-sensing, unicellular Chara rhizoids grown for 30 h under microgravity (MG) conditions during the IML-2 mission. The fixation unit allowed culture, fixation and storage of Chara rhizoids in the same chamber without transferring the samples. The procedure was easy and safe to perform and required a minimum of crew time. Rhizoids fixated with glutaraldehyde in space and further processed for electron microscopy on ground showed that the fixation was of high quality and corresponded to the fixation quality of rhizoids in the ground controls. Thus, the equipment accomplished the manifold problems related to the physical effects of MG. The polarity of the rhizoids was maintained in MG. Well-preserved organelles and microtubules showed no obvious difference in ultrastructure or distribution after 30-h growth in MG compared to ground controls. The statoliths were more randomly distributed, however, only up to 50 microns basal to the tip. Thus, changing the gravity conditions does to disturb the cellular organisation of the rhizoids enabling the tip-growing cells to follow their genetic program in development and growth also under MG.

Modification of reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana under spaceflight conditions

Reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. cv. Columbia plants was investigated under spaceflight conditions on shuttle mission STS-51. Plants launched just prior to initiation of the reproductive phase developed flowers and siliques during the 10-d flight. Approximately 500 flowers were produced in total by the 12 plants in both the ground control and spaceflight material, and there was no significant difference in the number of flowers in each size class. The flower buds and siliques of the spaceflight plants were not morphologically different from the ground controls. Pollen viability tests immediately post-flight using fluorescein diacetate indicated that about 35% of the pollen was viable in the spaceflight material. Light-microscopy observations on this material showed that the female gametophytes also had developed normally to maturity. However, siliques from the spaceflight plants contained empty, shrunken ovules, and no evidence of pollen transfer to stigmatic papillae was found by light microscopy immediately post-flight or by scanning electron microscopy on fixed material. Short stamen length and indehiscent anthers were observed in the spaceflight material, and a film-like substance inside the anther that connected to the tapetum appeared to restrict the release of pollen from the anthers. These observations indicate that given appropriate growing conditions, early reproductive development in A. thaliana can occur normally under spaceflight conditions. On STS-51, reproductive development aborted due to obstacles in pollination or fertilization.

Random root movements in weightlessness

The dynamics of root growth was studied in weightlessness. In the absence of the gravitropic reference direction during weightlessness, root movements could be controlled by spontaneous growth processes, without any corrective growth induced by the gravitropic system. If truly random of nature, the bending behavior should follow so-called 'random walk' mathematics during weightlessness. Predictions from this hypothesis were critically tested. In a Spacelab ESA-experiment, denoted RANDOM and carried out during the IML-2 Shuttle flight in July 1994, the growth of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) roots was followed by time lapse photography at 1-h intervals. The growth pattern was recorded for about 20 h. Root growth was significantly smaller in weightlessness as compared to gravity (control) conditions. It was found that the roots performed spontaneous movements in weightlessness. The average direction of deviation of the plants consistently stayed equal to zero, despite these spontaneous movements. The average squared deviation increased linearly with time as predicted theoretically (but only for 8-10 h). Autocorrelation calculations showed that bendings of the roots, as determined from the 1-h photographs, were uncorrelated after about a 2-h interval. It is concluded that random processes play an important role in root growth. Predictions from a random walk hypothesis as to the growth dynamics could explain parts of the growth patterns recorded. This test of the hypothesis required microgravity conditions as provided for in a space experiment.

Possible use of a 3-D clinostat to analyze plant growth processes under microgravity conditions

A three-dimensional (3-D) clinostat equipped with two rotation axes placed at right angles was constructed, and various growth processes of higher plants grown on this clinostat were compared with ground controls, with plants grown on the conventional horizontal clinostat, and with those under real microgravity in space. On the 3-D clinostat, cress roots developed a normal root cap and the statocytes showed the typical polar organization except a random distribution of statoliths. The structural features of clinostatted statocytes were fundamentally similar to those observed under real microgravity. The graviresponse of cress roots grown on the 3-D clinostat was the same as the control roots. On the 3-D clinostat, shoots and roots exhibited a spontaneous curvature as well as an altered growth direction. Such an automorphogenesis was sometimes exaggerated when plants were subjected to the horizontal rotation, whereas the curvature was suppressed on the vertical rotation. These discrepancies in curvature between the 3-D clinostat and the conventional ones appear to be brought about by the centrifugal force produced. Thus, the 3-D clinostat was proven as a useful device to simulate microgravity.

Gravitropism of roots: an evaluation of progress during the last three decades

The response of plant roots to gravity has fascinated many botanists since the early days of plant physiology and much research has been devoted to the elucidation of the sequence of events between the physical reception of gravity and the visible growth response. In the last few decades the ideas on the graviresponse of roots have changed profoundly and much progress has been made in understanding parts of the process. One of the reasons for writing this review was my curiosity to know what has happened since the time I myself was involved in the study of root geotropism, as it was called, about 30 years ago. Some excellent reviews have appeared since then, e.g. Audus (1975), Jackson & Barlow (1981) and Moore & Evans (1986), which were more restricted in scope and, moreover, there have been several fascinating developments. The aim of this review is to discuss briefly all aspects of the graviresponse of roots and the progress made in understanding during the last three decades. Some data on other plant organs are included where appropriate.

Effects of hypergravity on the elongation growth in radish and cucumber hypocotyls

The elongation growth of the hypocotyls of radish and cucumber seedlings was examined under hypergravity in a newly developed centrifuge (Kasahara et al. 1995). The effects of hypergravity on elongation growth differed between the two species. The rate of elongation of radish hypocotyls was reduced under basipetal hypergravity (H+2O g) but not under acropetal hypergravity (H-13 g), as compared to growth under the control conditions (C+1 g and C-1 g). In cucumber hypocotyls, elongation growth was inhibited not only by basipetal but also by acropetal hypergravity. Under these conditions, the reduction in the elongation growth of both radish and cucumber hypocotyls was accompanied by an increase in their thickness. Although no distinct differences in relative composition of neutral sugars were found, the amounts of cell-wall components (pectic substances, hemicelluloses and cellulose) per unit length of hypocotyls were increased by exposure to hypergravity.

The influence of altered gravity on carbohydrate metabolism in excised wheat leaves

We developed a system to study the influence of altered gravity on carbohydrate metabolism in excised wheat leaves by means of clinorotation. The use of excised leaves in our clinostat studies offered a number of advantages over the use of whole plants, most important of which were minimization of exogenous mechanical stress and a greater amount of carbohydrate accumulation during the time of treatment. We found that horizontal clinorotation of excised wheat leaves resulted in significant reductions in the accumulation of fructose, sucrose, starch and fructan relative to control, vertically clinorotated leaves. Photosynthesis, dark respiration and the extractable activities of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27), sucrose phosphate synthase (EC 2.4.4.14), sucrose sucrose fructosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.99), and fructan hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.80) were unchanged due to altered gravity treatment.

Starch metabolism in germinating soybean cotyledons is sensitive to clinorotation and centrifugation

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. McCall) seedlings germinated and grew for 6d under the altered gravity conditions of horizontal clinorotation and centrifugation. Both of these conditions resulted in decreased growth relative to the control (vertically rotated) plants. Starch concentration in the cotyledons was lower in the clinorotated plants and was higher in the centrifuged plants compared to the controls. The opposite relationship was noted for total lipid concentration. Of the six starch metabolic enzyme activities measured, only ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase was affected by the gravity treatments; being lower in the cotyledons of the horizontally rotated plants and higher in the cotyledons of the centrifuged plants relative to the control values.