Morphogenesis in cucumber seedlings is negatively controlled by gravity

Hideyuki Takahashi, Motoshi Kamada, Yutaka Yamazaki, Nobuharu Fujii, Atsushi Higashitani, Sachiko Aizawa, Izumi Yoshizaki, Shigeki Kamigaichi, Chiaki Mukai, Toru Shimazu, Keiji Fukui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Seedlings of most cucurbitaceous plants develop a peg (protuberance caused by cell outgrowth) on the transition zone between the hypocotyl and root. The peg is necessary for removing the seed coat after germination. In our spaceflight experiments on the STS-95 space shuttle, Discovery, we found thai cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings grown under microgravity conditions developed two pegs symmetrically at the transition zone. Thus, cucumber seedlings potentially develop two pegs and do not require gravity for peg formation itself, but on the ground the development of one peg is suppressed in response to gravity. This may be considered as negative control of morphogenesis by gravity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)515-518
Number of pages4
JournalPlanta
Volume210
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000 Feb

Keywords

  • Cucumis (peg formation)
  • Gravity
  • Microgravity
  • Morphogenesis (negative control) Peg formation

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