How do you make a plant roots defy geotropism?

Question

Hello everybody
I was wondering how a plants roots can defy gravity, meaning disproving geotropism. Yes I know, there will be gravity pulling down the roots, but I need to find a way to make the roots defy gravity. My project ideas are to use a hydroponics set. First I would put a seed in a plastic clear container filled with water. In the middle of the container would be mesh to prevent the seed from falling to the bottom and allowing the roots to grow through the mesh. As the roots have grown a little bit, I plan to take the seed and its roots, and suspend its roots with some string and a trellis. The seed would be facing to the bottom of the container. Would this idea disprove geotropism? Your comments, remarks, retorts, and suggestions are much appreciated! =D

Answer 1

There isn't really a "geotropism" as much as its a gravitropism. And it's not disproved by NASA. Notice in the NASA experiment there was no gravity, thus taking out the essential part of testing wether or not gravitropism is real. In your experiment you suggest hanging the plant upside down. The roots would just start growing down as the plant grew up. This is because of the statoliths in the root cell that fall to the lowest part of the cell and promote growth in that direction. They act oppositely in the stem, causing growth opposite the direction they fall. The plant would become contorted and probably wouldn't be able to support itself for very long depending on what type of plant it was. The roots won't defy gravity because its impractical. For millions of years they have grown down, where the water and nutrients are. They wont grow up, even if there is water and nutrients up, simply because they arnt only gaining things for the plant, but they are anchoring it to the ground, and the sun will ALWAYS be in the "up" direction.

Answer 2

Look on NASA's website. It's already been done. Plants grown in a nearly weightless environment grow roots in whatever direction they find nutrients.

Answer 3

Helen Sharman, the 1st Briton in area, did an test with grain seeds on the area station Mir. She observed that the shortcoming of gravity made the roots chaotic, even nevertheless the shoots confirmed phototropism.