The Influence of Gravity on the Formation of Amyloplasts in Columella Cells of Zea mays L

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 82; no. 3; pp. 867 - 868
• Main Authors: Moore, Randy, Fondren, W. Mark, E. Colin Koon, C-L. Wang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Legacy CDMS American Society of Plant Physiologists 01.11.1986
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Amyloplasts; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Communications; Economic plant physiology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gravitation; Gravitropism - physiology; Gravity; Life Sciences (General); Microgravity; Other techniques and industries; Physical agents; Plant cells; Plant physiology and development; Plant roots; Plant Roots - cytology; Plant Roots - physiology; Plant Roots - ultrastructure; Plants; Plastids - metabolism; Plastids - physiology; Plastids - ultrastructure; Seedlings; Seeds; Space Flight; Space life sciences; Starch - metabolism; Starches; Tropism and nastic movements; Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence; Vehicular flight; Weightlessness; Zea mays - cytology; Zea mays - physiology; Zea mays - ultrastructure; Nasa Discipline Plant Biology; Nasa Program Space Biology; Nasa Discipline Number 40-10; Sts-61c Shuttle Project; Non-Nasa Center; Manned; Short Duration; Flight Experiment; Monocotyledones; Cell organelle; Zea mays; Amyloplast; Cell differentiation; Cereal crop; Gramineae; Ultrastructure; Angiospermae; Statolith; Spermatophyta; Gravity; Geotropism; NASA Program Space Biology; NASA Discipline Number 40-10; NASA Discipline Plant Biology; Non-NASA Center
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.82.3.867

Columella (i.e., putative graviperceptive) cells of Zea mays seedlings grown in the microgravity of outer space allocate significantly less volume to putative statoliths (amyloplasts) than do columella cells of Earth-grown seedlings. Amyloplasts of flight-grown seedlings are significantly smaller than those of ground controls, as is the average volume of individual starch grains. Similarly, the relative volume of starch in amyloplasts in columella cells of flight-grown seedlings is significantly less than that of Earth-grown seedlings. Microgravity does not significantly alter the volume of columella cells, the average number of amyloplasts per columella cell, or the number of starch grains per amyloplast. These results are discussed relative to the influence of gravity on cellular and organellar structure.