Sensitivity of plant structure to clinorotation rates under simulated gravity condition

摘要

In order to investigate the effect of clinorotation on plant structure, a one-axis clinostat was developed to negate the 1-G earth gravity. Two-week-old leaf plants were transplanted on the plant stage of the clinostat and grown for one week at different clinorotation rates. The plant width and height were measured every day manually using vernier calipers.The exponential-regression was the best fit for the change in plant dimension with function of time. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.998 and the relative change rate was 8.77×10-2 mm.mm-1. Day-1 for width under control condition. The corresponding values for the leaf angle were 0.935 and 1.42×10-2 deg.deg-1.day-1, respectively. The leaf angle increased with increasing rate of clinorotation. The increase in leaf angle was 39 percent more for the clinorotated plants than the control at 1 rpm, 50 percent more at 5 rpm, and 52 percent more at 25 rpm. Soon after transplanting to the clinostat, an abrupt change in the leaf orientation was observed for a period of 3 to 4 days.