Abstract EANA2026-83

This interdisciplinary project sits at the intersection of experimental plant science, bioengineering, and artistic exploration, investigating how altered gravitational conditions shape plant morphology, biomass accumulation, and phytohormone dynamics. The project employs a dual-phase gravity simulation approach: hypergravity exposure via centrifuge (1G–5G) and simulated microgravity via a Random Positioning Machine (RPM), together providing a comprehensive picture of plant responses across the full gravitational spectrum relevant to spaceflight.

In the hypergravity phase, seedlings of selected species were cultivated for seven days under a 12:12 light-dark regime at gravity levels of 1G (control), 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, in both vertical and angled orientations. Biomass was quantified through ImageJ image analysis, while auxin levels were profiled biochemically via ELISA assay. Results demonstrated gravity-dependent modulation of both structural development and auxin distribution, with hypergravity-exposed plants showing measurable shifts in phytohormone concentrations relative to 1G controls, consistent with mechanically driven gravitropic signalling.

In the microgravity simulation phase, a curated botanical payload spanning legumes, leafy greens, root vegetables, and herbs is being cultivated on an RPM, which continuously randomises the gravity vector to effectively nullify gravitational orientation cues. This phase examines how the absence of a defined gravitational stimulus affects growth axes, branching patterns, structural symmetry, and overall morphology - with particular attention to species showing the highest biomass sensitivity identified during the hypergravity screening.

Across both phases, outputs encompass quantitative analytics (fresh and dry biomass, growth rates, leaf area), qualitative morphological tracking (curvature, branching, structural deformation), and an aesthetic dimension - documenting the emergence of distorted, bonsai-like plant forms as a direct expression of gravitational stress. These findings aim to deepen understanding of plant adaptation to non-terrestrial gravity conditions, with direct relevance to space agriculture and long-duration crewed missions.