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Autotropism, automorphogenesis, and gravitySegments of organs that have undergone gravitropic curvature later straighten during the course of gravitropism or after the g-vector becomes randomized on a clinostat. Little is known about the mechanism underlying these and perhaps related phenomena which have been described with various overlapping terms such as autotropism, autotropic straightening, automorphosis, automorphogenesis, automorphic curvature, and gravitropic straightening. The types of phenomena that historically have been named by the above terms are reviewed critically with respect to an interaction with gravitropism. We suggest that the term "autotropism" should not be applied to the phenomenon of organ straightening that occurs during the course of gravitropism, since this straightening is part of a complex series of local growth adjustments overall through time, and since this phenomenon is not itself a tropistic response to a directional exogenous stimulus. It is suggested that the term autotropism should be used only for the phenomenon of organ straightening that occurs after the g-vector is randomized on a clinostat or withdrawn in the microgravity conditions of spaceflight. Usage of the term automorphogenesis is most appropriate for describing curvatures or orientations that result from morphological relationships such as in nastic curvatures.
Document ID
20040088929
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stankovic, B.
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus 43210, United States)
Volkmann, D.
Sack, F. D.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Physiologia plantarum
Volume: 102
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0031-9317
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 50-9429
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG2-1023
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
STS Shuttle Project
NASA Discipline Plant Biology
Flight Experiment
manned
Non-NASA Center
short duration
Review, Tutorial
Review

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