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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview


Information provided courtesy of the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Brief Summary

Dynamism of Auxin Efflux Facilitators, CsPINs, Responsible for Gravity-regulated Growth and Development in Cucumber (CsPINs) uses cucumber seedlings to analyze the effect of gravity on gravimorphogenesis (peg formation) in cucumber plants.

Principal Investigator(s)

Hideyuki Takahashi, Ph.D., Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Nobuharu Fujii, Ph.D., Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Yutaka Miyazawa, Ph.D., Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Developer(s)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Tsukuba, , Japan

Sponsoring Space Agency

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

Research Benefits

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

March 2011 - May 2012

Expeditions Assigned

27/28,29/30

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• Dynamism of Auxin Efflux Facilitators, CsPINs, Responsible for Gravity-regulated Growth and Development in Cucumber (CsPINs) studies how plants sense gravity as an environmental signal and use it for governing their morphology and growth orientation.



• The Dynamism of Auxin Efflux Facilitators, CsPINs plays an important role in the regulation of gravity-dependent redistribution of auxin and thereby controls gravimorphogenesis (peg formation) in cucumber (Cucmis sativus L.) seedlings. Moreover, gravitropism interferes with hydrotropism in cucumber roots, in which the dynamism of auxin efflux facilitators may also play a role.



• Cucumber seedlings are used to analyze the effect of gravity on the expression of CsPIN1 and unravel their contributions to peg formation. Hydrotropism is differentiated from gravitropism in roots and compares the expression of CsPIN5 to figure out the interacting mechanism between the two tropisms.

Description

Information Pending

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Applications

Space Applications

Development of new techniques for controlling plant growth via regulation of auxin transport, morphogenesis and root hydrotropism (new tools/methods for plant cultivation in space) Gene-manipulated plants suitable for their cultivation in microgravity Techniques efficient for seedling growth and water uptake in microgravity

Earth Applications

Establishment of basis for sustainable life-support system in space and on the ground

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Information Pending

Operational Protocols

Information Pending

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Results/More Information

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Results Publications

Shimizu M, Miyazawa Y, Fujii N, Takahashi H.  p-Chlorophenoxyisobutyric Acid Impairs Auxin Response for Gravity-regulated Peg Formation in Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Seedlings. Journal of Plant Research. 2008; 121(1): 107-114. DOI: 10.1007/s10265-007-0121-0.

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Ground Based Results Publications

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ISS Patents

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Related Publications

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Related Websites

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Imagery

Peg formation in cucumber seedlings, image courtesy of JAXA.
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Gravity-regulated Growth and Development in Cucumber (CsPINs). Image courtesy of JAXA.
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NASA Image: ISS027E017840 - NASA astronaut Ron Garan, Expedition 27 flight engineer, supports the Dynamism of Auxin Efflux Facilitators responsible for Gravity-regulated Growth and Development in Cucumber (CsPINs) experiment in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station.
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A, D, G: Photos of seedlings grown in 1-g, horizontally B, E, H: Photos of seedlings grown in 1-g, vertically C, F, I: Photos of seedlings grown in microgravity. Significant nutational movement (wobbling) in ¼ g. Image courtesy of JAXA.
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Photo A: Seedling grown in 1-g, horizontally. Peg developed one side. Photo B: Seedling grown in 1-g, vertically. Peg developed both sides. Photo C: Seedlings grown in microgravity. Peg developed both sides. Images courtesy of JAXA.
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