Influence of modified gravity on growth and structure of Vaucheria sessilis (Xanthopyceae)

The constant presence of gravity force in the evolution of life on Earth caused the adaptation for its pressure and dependence of growth and morphogenesis of high plants on gravity, and appearance of gravitaxises of unicellular organisms. The modern investigations demonstrated the ability even of prokaryotic organisms for sensitivity of gravity modifications Erdmann et al., 1997). Object of current investigation was siphonaceous alga Vaucheria sessilis with branching thallome without septs. Vaucheria does not demonstrate gravitropic reaction, and does not possess statolite-like structure. It is important to note that graviresponse of such kind of objects was under investigation for the first time. The definite structure of cytoskeleton permits the functions of cytoskeleton elements to be analyzed in course of graviresponse. Siphonaceous algae are new and promising objects in gravitational cell biology. This investigation was intended to compare the graviresponse of Vaucheria detected on different experimental models of modified gravity.