Experimental Studies of Plant Culture in View of Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS). 2nd Report, Influence of Reciprocated Stimulation on Seismorphogenesis and Participation of Ethylene.

Abstract

High efficiency and intentional agriculture system such as a plant-factory should be introduced into the controlled ecological life support systems (CELSS) for food production. However, the morphogenesis of plants in the system may be affected by the environmental change derived from the scale-down or the difference in ecological system on earth. Therefore, germinational characteristic and seismorphogenesis of kidney bean were investigated by the culture system in which the germless soil was continuously reciprocated with a stroke of 60 mm. The growing rate was increased by the calmly stimulation where a frequency was 0.67 Hz. The wind generated by reciprocating motion might diffuse the atmosphere surrounding the plant, so that the photosynthesis was improved. The stalk of the plant was changed to a tall, narrow structure by the moderate stimulation where a frequency was 1.33 Hz. That structure seemed to ease the shock to the plant because of its flexibility. Ethylene production that was thought to be increased by mechanical stimulation may be one of the important factor for seismorphogenesis of plant. However, the mechanism based on participation of ethylene could not explain all aspects of the adaptive remodeling of plants.