Let’s assume the plant was sent into space in a comfy space shuttle with sufficient nutrients, gases, water, artificial light etc. but there is no gravity for the plant to grow against. Would geotropism still exist?
Edit: In the absence of gravity, which direction would the plant grow in? Eg. would it sprawl along the surface it is rooted to?
In: Biology
With the plants we’ve grown in space so far, the direction of the roots orients the rest of the plant, and since the roots kinda have to grow into the soil the plant grows out more or less like it would on earth, albeit sometimes a bit slanted over as if they were on a hill.
Source: Worked with some of the folks that designed their irrigation system while I was working on designing a much less impressive consumer-grade gardening system in college.
Edit: Right now they’re growing lettuce in space, it’s possible that other more stem and vine type plants could be different, but we’re still doing baby steps.
Latest Answers