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Plants and Microgravity
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Plants and Microgravity

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 14605

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elizabeth Kordyum

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Institute of Botany NASU, Tereschenkivska Str. 2, Kiev 01601, Ukraine
Interests: space biology; cell biology; reproductive biology; epigenetics
Dr. Karl H Hasenstein

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biology Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-3602, USA
Interests: space biology; gene transcription; gravitropism; auxin physiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Life focuses on conceptual advances of plant space biology derived from space and ground experiments. Plants are essential components of life support systems because of the edible biomass and metabolism that recycles water, reduces carbon dioxide, and produces oxygen, thereby improving the atmosphere of closed environments. Plants further support the psychological health of astronauts. Development of biological life support systems complements physical and chemical life support systems, all of which are necessary for space exploration and Martian and lunar bases. Topics covered in this issue include but are not limited to the effects of weightlessness and clinorotation studies on various biological processes and structures. gene expression  and protein synthesis, and reproduction. Of special interest is the adaptation of plants to long-term changes of altered gravity and the role of epigenetics in this process.

This Special Issue  will provide a so-far missing resource for the scientific community and a possibility to contribute your latest research on the topic or integrating current results in comprehensive reviews.

Dr. Elizabeth Kordyum
Dr. Karl H Hasenstein
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • clinorotation
  • development
  • gene expression
  • gravity
  • hypobaric condition
  • photoperiod
  • plant space biology
  • substrate
  • temperature
  • UV & ionizing radiation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 153 KiB  
Editorial
Preamble to the Special Edition Plants and Microgravity
by Elizabeth Kordyum and Karl H. Hasenstein
Life 2023, 13(5), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051113 - 30 Apr 2023
Viewed by 950
Abstract
The need to study plant systems in space has a long history and space experiments on plants were recognized for their scientific value and as necessity to provide life support for humans and other non-photosynthetic organisms [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants and Microgravity)

Research

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25 pages, 3348 KiB  
Article
Brachypodium distachyon Seedlings Display Accession-Specific Morphological and Transcriptomic Responses to the Microgravity Environment of the International Space Station
by Shih-Heng Su, Howard G. Levine and Patrick H. Masson
Life 2023, 13(3), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030626 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2289
Abstract
Plants have been recognized as key components of bioregenerative life support systems for space exploration, and many experiments have been carried out to evaluate their adaptability to spaceflight. Unfortunately, few of these experiments have involved monocot plants, which constitute most of the crops [...] Read more.
Plants have been recognized as key components of bioregenerative life support systems for space exploration, and many experiments have been carried out to evaluate their adaptability to spaceflight. Unfortunately, few of these experiments have involved monocot plants, which constitute most of the crops used on Earth as sources of food, feed, and fiber. To better understand the ability of monocot plants to adapt to spaceflight, we germinated and grew Brachypodium distachyon seedlings of the Bd21, Bd21-3, and Gaz8 accessions in a customized growth unit on the International Space Station, along with 1-g ground controls. At the end of a 4-day growth period, seedling organ’s growth and morphologies were quantified, and root and shoot transcriptomic profiles were investigated using RNA-seq. The roots of all three accessions grew more slowly and displayed longer root hairs under microgravity conditions relative to ground control. On the other hand, the shoots of Bd21-3 and Gaz-8 grew at similar rates between conditions, whereas those of Bd21 grew more slowly under microgravity. The three Brachypodium accessions displayed dramatically different transcriptomic responses to microgravity relative to ground controls, with the largest numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in Gaz8 (4527), followed by Bd21 (1353) and Bd21-3 (570). Only 47 and six DEGs were shared between accessions for shoots and roots, respectively, including DEGs encoding wall-associated proteins and photosynthesis-related DEGs. Furthermore, DEGs associated with the “Oxidative Stress Response” GO group were up-regulated in the shoots and down-regulated in the roots of Bd21 and Gaz8, indicating that Brachypodium roots and shoots deploy distinct biological strategies to adapt to the microgravity environment. A comparative analysis of the Brachypodium oxidative-stress response DEGs with the Arabidopsis ROS wheel suggests a connection between retrograde signaling, light response, and decreased expression of photosynthesis-related genes in microgravity-exposed shoots. In Gaz8, DEGs were also found to preferentially associate with the “Plant Hormonal Signaling” and “MAP Kinase Signaling” KEGG pathways. Overall, these data indicate that Brachypodium distachyon seedlings exposed to the microgravity environment of ISS display accession- and organ-specific responses that involve oxidative stress response, wall remodeling, photosynthesis inhibition, expression regulation, ribosome biogenesis, and post-translational modifications. The general characteristics of these responses are similar to those displayed by microgravity-exposed Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. However, organ- and accession-specific components of the response dramatically differ both within and between species. These results suggest a need to directly evaluate candidate-crop responses to microgravity to better understand their specific adaptability to this novel environment and develop cultivation strategies allowing them to strive during spaceflight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants and Microgravity)
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14 pages, 5221 KiB  
Article
Utilizing the KSC Fixation Tube to Conduct Human-Tended Plant Biology Experiments on a Suborbital Spaceflight
by Natasha J. Haveman, Mingqi Zhou, Jordan Callaham, Hunter F. Strickland, Donald Houze, Susan Manning-Roach, Gerard Newsham, Anna-Lisa Paul and Robert J. Ferl
Life 2022, 12(11), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12111871 - 13 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2496
Abstract
Suborbital spaceflights now enable human-tended research investigating short-term gravitational effects in biological systems, eliminating the need for complex automation. Here, we discuss a method utilizing KSC Fixation Tubes (KFTs) to both carry biology to suborbital space as well as fix that biology at [...] Read more.
Suborbital spaceflights now enable human-tended research investigating short-term gravitational effects in biological systems, eliminating the need for complex automation. Here, we discuss a method utilizing KSC Fixation Tubes (KFTs) to both carry biology to suborbital space as well as fix that biology at certain stages of flight. Plants on support media were inserted into the sample side of KFTs preloaded with RNAlater in the fixation chamber. The KFTs were activated at various stages of a simulated flight to fix the plants. RNA-seq analysis conducted on tissue samples housed in KFTs, showed that plants behaved consistently in KFTs when compared to petri-plates. Over the time course, roots adjusted to hypoxia and leaves adjusted to changes in photosynthesis. These responses were due in part to the environment imposed by the encased triple containment of the KFTs, which is a requirement for flight in human spacecraft. While plants exhibited expected reproducible transcriptomic alteration over time in the KFTs, responses to clinorotation during the simulated flight suggest that transcriptomic responses to suborbital spaceflight can be examined using this approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants and Microgravity)
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9 pages, 1913 KiB  
Article
An Arabidopsis PTH2 Gene Is Responsible for Gravity Resistance Supporting Plant Growth under Different Gravity Conditions
by Takayuki Hattori, Kouichi Soga, Kazuyuki Wakabayashi and Takayuki Hoson
Life 2022, 12(10), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101603 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1970
Abstract
Terrestrial plants respond to and resist gravitational force. The response is termed “gravity resistance”, and centrifugal hypergravity conditions are efficient for investigating its nature and mechanism. A functional screening of Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion lines for the suppression rate of elongation growth of hypocotyls [...] Read more.
Terrestrial plants respond to and resist gravitational force. The response is termed “gravity resistance”, and centrifugal hypergravity conditions are efficient for investigating its nature and mechanism. A functional screening of Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion lines for the suppression rate of elongation growth of hypocotyls under hypergravity conditions was performed in this study to identify the genes required for gravity resistance. As a result, we identified PEPTIDYL-tRNA HYDROLASE II (PTH2). In the wild type, elongation growth was suppressed by hypergravity, but this did not happen in the pth2 mutant. Lateral growth, dynamics of cortical microtubules, mechanical properties of cell walls, or cell wall thickness were also not affected by hypergravity in the pth2 mutant. In other words, the pth2 mutant did not show any significant hypergravity responses. However, the gravitropic curvature of hypocotyls of the pth2 mutant was almost equal to that of the wild type, indicating that the PTH2 gene is not required for gravitropism. It is suggested by these results that PTH2 is responsible for the critical processes of gravity resistance in Arabidopsis hypocotyls. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants and Microgravity)
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Review

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13 pages, 1460 KiB  
Review
Lipid Rafts and Plant Gravisensitivity
by Elizabeth L. Kordyum, Olga A. Artemenko and Karl H. Hasenstein
Life 2022, 12(11), 1809; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12111809 - 7 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2059
Abstract
The necessity to include plants as a component of a Bioregenerative Life Support System leads to investigations to optimize plant growth facilities as well as a better understanding of the plant cell membrane and its numerous activities in the signaling, transport, and sensing [...] Read more.
The necessity to include plants as a component of a Bioregenerative Life Support System leads to investigations to optimize plant growth facilities as well as a better understanding of the plant cell membrane and its numerous activities in the signaling, transport, and sensing of gravity, drought, and other stressors. The cell membrane participates in numerous processes, including endo- and exocytosis and cell division, and is involved in the response to external stimuli. Variable but stabilized microdomains form in membranes that include specific lipids and proteins that became known as (detergent-resistant) membrane microdomains, or lipid rafts with various subclassifications. The composition, especially the sterol-dependent recruitment of specific proteins affects endo- and exo-membrane domains as well as plasmodesmata. The enhanced saturated fatty acid content in lipid rafts after clinorotation suggests increased rigidity and reduced membrane permeability as a primary response to abiotic and mechanical stress. These results can also be obtained with lipid-sensitive stains. The linkage of the CM to the cytoskeleton via rafts is part of the complex interactions between lipid microdomains, mechanosensitive ion channels, and the organization of the cytoskeleton. These intricately linked structures and functions provide multiple future research directions to elucidate the role of lipid rafts in physiological processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants and Microgravity)
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17 pages, 1703 KiB  
Review
Red Light Enhances Plant Adaptation to Spaceflight and Mars g-Levels
by Francisco-Javier Medina, Aránzazu Manzano, Raúl Herranz and John Z. Kiss
Life 2022, 12(10), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101484 - 24 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3579
Abstract
Understanding how plants respond and adapt to extraterrestrial conditions is essential for space exploration initiatives. Deleterious effects of the space environment on plant development have been reported, such as the unbalance of cell growth and proliferation in the root meristem, or gene expression [...] Read more.
Understanding how plants respond and adapt to extraterrestrial conditions is essential for space exploration initiatives. Deleterious effects of the space environment on plant development have been reported, such as the unbalance of cell growth and proliferation in the root meristem, or gene expression reprogramming. However, plants are capable of surviving and completing the seed-to-seed life cycle under microgravity. A key research challenge is to identify environmental cues, such as light, which could compensate the negative effects of microgravity. Understanding the crosstalk between light and gravity sensing in space was the major objective of the NASA-ESA Seedling Growth series of spaceflight experiments (2013–2018). Different g-levels were used, with special attention to micro-g, Mars-g, and Earth-g. In spaceflight seedlings illuminated for 4 days with a white light photoperiod and then photostimulated with red light for 2 days, transcriptomic studies showed, first, that red light partially reverted the gene reprogramming induced by microgravity, and that the combination of microgravity and photoactivation was not recognized by seedlings as stressful. Two mutant lines of the nucleolar protein nucleolin exhibited differential requirements in response to red light photoactivation. This observation opens the way to directed-mutagenesis strategies in crop design to be used in space colonization. Further transcriptomic studies at different g-levels showed elevated plastid and mitochondrial genome expression in microgravity, associated with disturbed nucleus–organelle communication, and the upregulation of genes encoding auxin and cytokinin hormonal pathways. At the Mars g-level, genes of hormone pathways related to stress response were activated, together with some transcription factors specifically related to acclimation, suggesting that seedlings grown in partial-g are able to acclimate by modulating genome expression in routes related to space-environment-associated stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants and Microgravity)
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