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Related Experiment Videos

Cytoplasmic streaming and gravity sensing in Chara internodal cells.

M P Staves1

  • 1Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA. stavesm@gvsu.edu

Planta
|September 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary

The gravitational pressure model, not the starch-statolith model, better explains plant gravity perception. Gravity creates pressure on cells, influencing cytoplasmic streaming, which can be reversed in denser media.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Two models explain plant gravity perception: gravitational pressure and starch-statolith.
  • The starch-statolith model is more widely accepted.
  • Plant cells exhibit gravity-dependent cytoplasmic streaming.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism of plant gravity perception.
  • To differentiate between the gravitational pressure and starch-statolith models.
  • To explain the physiological control of gravity-induced cytoplasmic streaming.

Main Methods:

  • Experiments using vertically-oriented Chara internodal cells.
  • Manipulation of the density of the surrounding medium.
  • Observation of cytoplasmic streaming polarity.

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Main Results:

  • Gravity-induced polarity of cytoplasmic streaming was observed.
  • This polarity was reversed when cells were in a denser medium.
  • The results contradict the starch-statolith model but support the gravitational pressure model.

Conclusions:

  • Plant cells sense gravity via pressure differences, not solely by statoliths.
  • Gravity induces mechanical stress on the plasma membrane, affecting cytoplasmic streaming.
  • This mechanism involves mechanosensitive calcium channels.