Simulated microgravity affects directional growth of pollen tubes in candidate space crops

Background Long-term space missions will necessarily require producing viable seeds to be used for plant cultivation over time under altered gravity conditions. Pollen is known play a key role in determining seed and fruit production seed-to-seed cycles, but very few studies have evaluated pollen functionality gravity. Methods We performed ground-based experiments test how simulated microgravity can affect the directional growth of tubes as potential bottleneck sets. The effect clinorotation was assessed Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. ‘Micro-Tom’ Brassica rapa var. silvestris , both eligible space. tube length tortuosity were compared 1 g with uniaxial clinostat. Results main results highlighted that significantly increased Further, prompted differential on germination between S. B. . A more in-depth analysis evaluating excluded gravitropic responses responsible tip position reached after germination. Discussion This research provides new insights into interfere reproduction and, particular, microgametophyte functionality. Our findings represent basis further aimed at understanding real developing countermeasures ensure long-term achieve self-sufficiency food supplies from Earth.