Differences in Growth and Ontogenetic Development of Plant Raised in Natural and Inverse Orientation Relative to the Earth Gravitational Field

Abstract

Wheat plants Triticum aestivum L., Apogee cultivar, were grown in natural and inverse orientation relative to the Earth gravitational field. Special vegetation containers with double bottom were used for the cultivation. The upper bottom made of porous titanium served as a hydrophilic porous membrane stabilizing water potential in the root-inhabited zone at a given level. Normal plants yielding viable seeds were obtained in both natural and inverse orientation. In our experiments, the inverse orientation stimulated dry matter accumulation by plants and development of productive tillering shoots, as well as increased the shoot–root dry weight ratio.