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Robotic Sensing and Stimuli Provision for Guided Plant Growth
Published on: July 1, 2019
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Light and gravity signals synergize in modulating plant development.
Joshua P Vandenbrink1, John Z Kiss1, Raul Herranz2
1Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University MS, USA.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|November 13, 2014
Summary
Plant tropisms, like gravitropism and phototropism, are growth responses to environmental cues. Microgravity and light impact plant cell development by affecting the cell cycle and growth, with phytohormones like auxin playing a key role.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Developmental biology
- Space biology
Background:
- Tropisms are plant growth movements in response to environmental stimuli such as gravity and light.
- Gravitropism and phototropism are interconnected phenomena with shared molecular mechanisms.
- Environmental stimuli significantly affect meristematic cells, crucial for plant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss similarities and molecular mechanisms of gravitropism and phototropism.
- To highlight research on plant tropisms in microgravity to decouple these responses.
- To investigate the effects of microgravity and light on meristematic cells, cell cycle, and ribosome biogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on plant tropisms and their molecular underpinnings.
- Analysis of studies conducted in microgravity environments.
- Examination of the roles of light, gravity, phytohormones (auxin), phytochromes, cell cycle regulation, and ribosome biogenesis.
Main Results:
- Microgravity disrupts meristematic competence, decoupling cell proliferation and growth, and affecting cell cycle regulation and ribosome biogenesis.
- Light irradiation, particularly red light via phytochromes, activates these processes.
- Auxin is identified as a key mediator in these gravity and light-induced alterations.
Conclusions:
- Plant tropisms are complex growth responses influenced by gravity and light.
- Microgravity significantly impacts plant cell development by altering meristematic competence and cell cycle regulation.
- Future space station experiments are expected to elucidate the molecular players involved in plant responses to environmental signals and tropisms.
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