Adaptive response of Arabidopsis seedlings in microgravity and Mars reduced gravity environment is enhanced by red light photostimulation

Even less is known about plants response to partial or reduced gravity levels. In the absence of the directional cues provided by the gravity vector the plant is especially perceptive to other cues such as light.

Here we investigate the response of Arabidopsis thaliana 6-day-old seedlings to microgravity and the Mars partial gravity level during spaceflight as well as the effects of red light photostimulation by determining meristematic cell growth and proliferation. These experiments involve microscopic techniques together with transcriptomic studies. We demonstrate that microgravity and partial gravity trigger differential responses.