Brown AH, Chapman DK, Heathcote DG, Johnsson A.
Plant Physiol. 1993 May; 102: 119.
Gravitational Plant Physiol. Lab., UCSC, Philadelphia, PA.
Oat seedlings, challenged by transversely applied centripetal accelerations, responded either in microgravity or under clinorotation on Earth. The same apparatus was used in space and on Earth. Growth and tropistic responses were monitored by IR time-lapse imagery. Data were used to measure g-threshold, to determine compliance with the Reciprocity Rule, occurrence of Circumnutation and of Autotropism, and to compare results from space vs clinostat tests to determine the validity of clinorotation as a simulation of weightlessness. Earth-based data had been acquired prior to launch but extensive post-flight test were needed for plants of different sizes and ages because during the flight we had observed an unexpected acceleration of development exhibited by plants prior to being tested in space. The precocious development was due to earlier emergence not to faster growth of the coleoptiles. Protocol changes during the flight and extensive post-flight tests allowed us to realize fully or partially most of our operational objectives.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acceleration
- Avena sativa
- Cotyledon
- Rotation
- Seedling
- Weightlessness
- Weightlessness Simulation
- growth & development
- NASA Discipline Number 00-00
- NASA Discipline Plant Biology
- NASA Program Flight
- Non-NASA Center
Other ID:
UI: 102212553
From Meeting Abstracts