Observing Soybeans Under Clinostat

Justin Kim

AbstractGravitropism of plants is considered to be one of the most important

responses to adapt to the ground conditions on the earth. The cultivation of plants as a resource of foods and oxygen, and for psychological reasons will be one of the essential and fundamental factors for human being to live in space conditions in near future. Therefore, to study the effects of microgravity conditions in space on the growth and development of plants are considered to be an important subject. Though some studies concerning with the effect of microgravity conditions in space on some physiological responses of plants have already been done using spacecrafts (Brown et al. 1990, Kiss et al. 1999, Musgrave et al. 1997, Volkmann et al. 1986), information obtained from these space experiments still seems not to be sufficient to make clear the growth and development of plants in space. Nevertheless, the purpose of using clinostat is because chance of study in space is still limited and if possible it is extremely costly and of course would have to be well trained and fit.

Need

• It is important to study the plants for essential and fundamental factors for human being to live in space conditions in near future.

• Actually doing the experiments in space surrounding is too expensive and need too many requirements.

Literature Review

• However, the clinostat rotation in the constant direction often causes undesired effects, probably due to the continuous stimulation of lateral side of plant organs (Larsen)

• Gravitropism is specifically the gravity-directed growth process that directs both shoot and root growth from seed germination toward or away from the earth's gravitational pull are gravitropism. (Honson)

(K. Miyamoto) (Honson)

Purpose- Because there isn’t enough details and experiments to clearly state the results of growth of plants under microgravity.

Hypothesis-

In the absence of gravity, it is hypothesized that the roots would show random growth, changing their direction randomly.

Knowledge Base

• Plants were observed under clinostat

(pictures will be added)

Methodology

Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)

Soybeans (N=30)

Plants were observed with no light in a jar with cottons and water

Plants were observed under clinostat to reduce gravity in a jar with no light with cottons and water.

Observed the length of the plants (cm)

The mean of the control group and experimental group compared

Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)

Plants were observed under clinostat to reduce gravity in a jar with no light with cottons and water.

Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)

Plants were observed with no light in a jar with cottons and water

Plants were observed under clinostat to reduce gravity in a jar with no light with cottons and water.

Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)

Observed the length of the plants (cm)

Plants were observed with no light in a jar with cottons and water

Plants were observed under clinostat to reduce gravity in a jar with no light with cottons and water.

Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)

The mean of the control group and experimental group compared

Observed the length of the plants (cm)

Plants were observed with no light in a jar with cottons and water

Plants were observed under clinostat to reduce gravity in a jar with no light with cottons and water.

Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)Experimental Group

(N=15)

Control Group

(N=15)Experimental Group

(N=15)

Plants were observed with no light in a jar with cottons and water

Control Group

(N=15)Experimental Group

(N=15)