Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31846: Rooting for Science: Studying Arabidopsis Plant Behavior in Space

Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant, is a model organism in plant biology. In this experiment led by Anna-Lisa Paul and Robert Ferl at the University of Florida, researchers studied how Arabidopsis roots grow and respond to stimuli in microgravity. Conducted over multiple ISS expeditions, the research helps scientists understand plant signaling and adaptive mechanisms without gravity. It’s crucial for designing efficient plant-based life support systems and ensuring food security on long missions. Observations from this work also contribute to basic biology by revealing how plants interpret their environment when Earth's gravitational cues are absent.

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