Shevchenko GV.
Adv Space Res. 1998; 21: 1167.
Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev.
Root hairs of Beta vulgaris are protrusions from rhizodermal cells and are characterised by plagiotropic growth. The roles of the cytoskeleton and of gravity in this growth process are being studied with the help of a clinostat. Through the use of immunocytochemical and fluorescent staining methods which reveal microtubules (MTs) and microfilaments (MFs), it was found that these cytoskeletal components of the root hairs of 4-day-old seedlings of B. vulgaris were affected by clinorotation at 2 r.p.m. In control conditions, MTs were found to be distributed evenly throughout the root hair, and an intense fluorescence due to MFs was observed at the tip of the hairs. With clinorotation, however, MTs became distributed at random, though no redistribution of MFs was observed. The latter finding conforms to the idea that MFs are responsible for tip growth. That MTs are more sensitive to altered gravity conditions is presently being tested.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Beta vulgaris
- Cytoskeleton
- Gravitation
- Gravity, Altered
- Microfilaments
- Microtubules
- Plant Roots
- Rotation
Other ID:
UI: 102236962
From Meeting Abstracts