title: Gravity affects the closure of the traps in Dionaea muscipula.
abstract: Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) is a carnivorous plant known for its ability to capture insects thanks to the fast snapping of its traps. This fast movement has been long studied and it is triggered by the mechanical stimulation of hairs, located in the middle of the leaves. Here we present detailed experiments on the effect of microgravity on trap closure recorded for the first time during a parabolic flight campaign. Our results suggest that gravity has an impact on trap responsiveness and on the kinetics of trap closure. The possible role of the alterations of membrane permeability induced by microgravity on trap movement is discussed. Finally we show how the Venus flytrap could be an easy and effective model plant to perform studies on ion channels and aquaporin activities, as well as on electrical activity in vivo on board of parabolic flights and large diameter centrifuges.
authors.affiliation: DISPAA, University of Florence, Viale delle idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8686-8761
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
authors.affiliation: DISPAA, University of Florence, Viale delle idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6702-438X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.affiliation: IZMB, University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voigt
authors.affiliation: DISPAA, University of Florence, Viale delle idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mugnai
authors.affiliation: IZMB, University of Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volkmann
authors.affiliation: DISPAA, University of Florence, Viale delle idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D031257:Droseraceae / Q000502:physiology*; D006112:Gravitation; D007700:Kinetics