Efficacy of the Random Positioning Machine as a Terrestrial Analogue to Microgravity in Studies of Seedling Phototropism

IF 1.3 4区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, AEROSPACE

Microgravity Science and Technology Pub Date : 2023-08-14 DOI:10.1007/s12217-023-10066-9

Ariel M. Hughes, Joshua P. Vandenbrink, John Z. Kiss

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Abstract

The future of space exploration will be contingent upon the use of plants in bioregenerative life support systems. Unfortunately, the microgravity of space can cause stress in plants, which can reduce growth. The Random Positioning Machine, RPM, is a device designed to provide an analogue for the effects of microgravity on Earth by rotating specimens in three dimensions. In this study, we compare the results from experiments conducted on the International Space Station with those conducted using the RPM (in the 3D clinostat mode) on the ground. Seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype and phytochrome mutants were grown in true microgravity and in the omnidirectional gravity on a rotating RPM on the ground. We found that the RPM treatment caused less stress in the seedlings than did true microgravity. We also report that phytochromes A and B play roles in phototropic responses to unilateral light and that these roles differ in the two gravitational environments. Finally, we conclude that while root phototropism in unilateral red and blue differs significantly between the microgravity and omnidirectional stimuli, the RPM can serve as a reasonable analogue of microgravity conditions for assessment of shoot phototropism.

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随机定位机在地球模拟微重力条件下幼苗向光性研究中的效果

太空探索的未来将取决于在生物再生生命维持系统中使用植物。不幸的是，太空的微重力会给植物带来压力，从而减少生长。随机定位机(RPM)是一种通过在三维空间中旋转样本来模拟地球上微重力影响的设备。在这项研究中，我们比较了在国际空间站上进行的实验结果与在地面上使用RPM(在3D回转模式下)进行的实验结果。拟南芥野生型和光敏色素突变体的幼苗在真正的微重力和全向重力下在地面旋转RPM上生长。我们发现RPM处理比真正的微重力处理对幼苗造成的胁迫更小。我们还报道了光敏色素A和B在单侧光的致光性响应中发挥作用，并且这些作用在两种重力环境下有所不同。最后，我们得出结论，尽管在微重力和全方位刺激下，单侧红色和蓝色的根向光性存在显著差异，但RPM可以作为微重力条件下评估茎向光性的合理模拟。

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来源期刊

Microgravity Science and Technology 工程技术-工程：宇航

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

44.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： Microgravity Science and Technology – An International Journal for Microgravity and Space Exploration Related Research is a is a peer-reviewed scientific journal concerned with all topics, experimental as well as theoretical, related to research carried out under conditions of altered gravity. Microgravity Science and Technology publishes papers dealing with studies performed on and prepared for platforms that provide real microgravity conditions (such as drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets, reentry capsules and orbiting platforms), and on ground-based facilities aiming to simulate microgravity conditions on earth (such as levitrons, clinostats, random positioning machines, bed rest facilities, and micro-scale or neutral buoyancy facilities) or providing artificial gravity conditions (such as centrifuges). Data from preparatory tests, hardware and instrumentation developments, lessons learnt as well as theoretical gravity-related considerations are welcome. Included science disciplines with gravity-related topics are: − materials science − fluid mechanics − process engineering − physics − chemistry − heat and mass transfer − gravitational biology − radiation biology − exobiology and astrobiology − human physiology