Scientists Seek Reasons Why Plants Allowed To Grow In Space Grows Differently

Biotube-Magnetophoretically Induced Curvature in Roots (Biotube-MICRO)

On earth, the fact that plants grow upward while their roots go downward is not given much taught since we just conclude its natural. But if plants are to grow in space, what would be their direction of growth? Interesting Right? Just read on.


This study was delivered to the space station April 20 aboard a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft. It's one of several science payloads on the SpaceX-3 mission, the company's third contracted commercial resupply flight to the orbiting laboratory. The Biotube-MICRO investigation that recently arrived to the International Space Station aims to investigate the how plants grow in space under the influence of no gravity, and what it finds could have big implications for long-duration human spaceflight

After just a short while, plants are found to grow differently in space. "What we learn from this experiment will help us grow plants in space, because right now, roots grow in random directions due to the lack of gravity," explained Ralph Fritsche, a payload manager with the International Space Station Ground Processing and Research Project Office at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "It will also provide fundamental understanding of plant biology that benefits us on Earth."



What then influence plants on earth to grow 'correctly'? Is it Gravity or Magnetic field?

That is what the experiment is also about. Biotube-MICRO will help scientists understand how gravity guides plants into growing correctly. Since starch grains in plant cells react to magnetic fields, the study uses extremely strong magnets to try to influence the direction of root growth. If the root curves away from the magnet, it's an indication that plants can use magnetic fields, rather than the downward pull of gravity, to determine which way to grow
 
The full name of the project is Biotube-Magnetophoretically Induced Curvature in Roots. Developed by the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, it contains three magnetic field chambers, each of which carries eight cassettes holding 10 Brassica rapa seeds. Brassica rapa is a quick-growing plant also known as field mustard.
 

Aboard the space station, resident crew members will install the Biotube-MICRO investigation in a standard payload rack, turn it on, and complete a startup sequence.

The study itself is completely automated. A small amount of water will be injected into each seed cassette, prompting the seeds to germinate. Small cameras will record the plants' growth and send these images to scientists on Earth, so they can decide when to conclude the study. At that point, application of either formaldehyde or RNAlater will stop the growth and preserve the seedlings.

phys.org