Prolonged exposure to hypergravity increases number and size of cells and enhances lignin deposition in the stem of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

We have performed a lab-based hypergravity cultivation experiment using a centrifuge equipped with a lighting system and examined long-term effects of hypergravity on the development of the main axis (stem) of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.) primary inflorescence. Plants grown under 1 x g (gravitational acceleration on Earth) conditions for 20-23 days and having the first visible flower bud were exposed to hypergravity at 8 x g for 10 days. We analyzed the effect of prolonged hypergravity conditions on growth, lignin deposition, and tissue anatomy of the main axis. As a result, the length of the main axis decreased and cross-sectional area, dry mass per unit length, cell number, lignin content of the main axis significantly increased under hypergravity. Lignin content in the rosette leaves also increased when they were exposed to hypergravity during their development. Except for interfascicular fibers, cross-sectional areas of the tissues composing the internode significantly increased under hypergravity in most type of the tissues in the basal part than the apical part of the main axis, indicating that the effect of hypergravity is more pronounced in the basal part than the apical part. The number of cells in fascicular cambium and xylem significantly increased under hypergravity both in the apical and basal internodes of the main axis, indicating a possibility that hypergravity stimulates procambium activity to produce xylem element more than phloem element. The main axis was suggested to be strengthened through changes in its morphological characteristics as well as lignin deposition under prolonged hypergravity conditions.