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Plants and Man
in Space
Plants and Man in Space:
Why bring plants along and study them in
space?
 benefits
 life
in space
support
 benefits
on Earth
 improvement
of plant resources
 improve understanding of how
gravity affects plants
Why bring plants along?:
life support systems
O2
food
water
CO2
Why bring plants along ?:
Benefits on Earth from plant studies in space
Key Questions to be Answered
 How
does the gravity environment shape the
way plants grow and reproduce?
 How will the microgravity environment of
space alter the way plants grow and
reproduce?
How does the gravity environment shape
the way plants grow and reproduce?
 It’s
obvious on Earth that gravity directs
the growth of shoots up and roots down.
 When
a plant is placed on its side, roots and
shoots reorient.
How does the gravity environment shape
the way plants grow and reproduce?
 It’s
obvious on Earth that gravity directs the
growth of shoots up and roots down.
 When
a plant is placed on its side, roots and
shoots reorient.
 All
effects of gravity on growth and
development might not be obvious on Earth.
How will the microgravity environment
of space alter the way plants grow and
reproduce?
 An
obvious effect is disoriented growth of
roots and shoots in space.
 What are less obvious effects on
development, reproduction, and
metabolism?
Examples of Studies in Space
 Changes
in root cells
 Chromosome damage in cultured plant
cells
 Pollen and seed development
Examples of Studies in Space
 Changes
in root cells
 Chromosome damage in cultured plant
cells
 Pollen and seed development
Examples of Studies in Space
 Changes
in root cells
 Chromosome damage in cultured plant
cells
 Pollen and seed development
Examples of Studies in Space
 Changes
in root cells
 Chromosome damage in cultured plant
cells
 Pollen and seed development
Examples of Space Related Plants
Studies on Earth
 Plant
mutants
 mucilage
free corn root tips
 low starch tobacco seedlings
 Single
cell systems
 Chara
algae cells
 Ceratopteris fern spores
The Root as an Experimental
System in Gravity Research
root cap
area of growth response
Examples of Space Related Plants
Studies on Earth
 Plant
mutants
 mucilage
free corn root tips
 low starch tobacco seedlings
 Single
cell systems
 Chara
algae cells
 Ceratopteris fern spores
Examples of Space Related Plants
Studies on Earth
 Plant
mutants
 mucilage
free corn root tips
 low starch tobacco seedlings
 Single
cell systems
 Chara
algae cells
 Ceratopteris fern spores
Examples of Space Related Plants
Studies on Earth
 Plant
mutants
 mucilage
free corn root tips
 low starch tobacco seedlings
 Single
cell systems
 Chara
algae cells
 Ceratopteris fern spores
Streaming in a Horizontal Cell
v
v
streaming velocity (v): upper=lower
Streaming Rates are Related to Tension and Compression
cell density>medium density
cell density<medium density
pull
compress
V
settling
protoplasm
V
V
buoyant
protoplasm
V
compress
pull
Vdown>Vup
Vdown<Vup
Examples of Space Related Plants
Studies on Earth
 Plant
mutants
 mucilage
free corn root tips
 low starch tobacco seedlings
 Single
cell systems
 Chara
algae cells
 Ceratopteris fern spores
Germinating Ceratopteris Spores
Gravity Response of Ceratopteris
Induction of germination by light
Polarity determination window
nuclear migration
mitosis
spore coat splitting
rhizoid growth
Nuclear Migration
in Ceratopteris Spores