====Plant root experiment====
(part of the PARN project, Lionel)

===Abstract===

The tips of the plant roots are highly sensitive areas, capable of detecting and interpreting a large range a environmental parameters such as water availability, gravity, nutrients concentration and mechanical forces. Those parameters determine the direction of the root's growth.

Here, we decided to investigate the ability of a root to 'search for its way'. We designed a simple pattern of tiny channels (~ 1 mm² of section) to let a plant's root grow inside. At every branching, the root tip will have to make a choice, guided by its cellular sensory mechanims.

===Materials & methods===

{{:parn_microfluidics_small_bis.png?nolink}}\\
The idea is to carve 1mm deep grooves in a transparent layer. By adding another layer on it, the grooves becomes channels.

{{:cad_drawing.png?nolink}}\\
A first, simple pattern for the channels (.xls drawing)

{{:parn_plant_roots_27sept_small02.jpg?nolink}}\\
The pattern was grooved in a plexiglas plate by lasercut

{{:parn_27sept_small03.jpg?nolink}}\\
Glass pipes connect the circuit with water stocks

{{:parn_27sept_small01.jpg?nolink}}\\
A seed is inserted on the 'input' side of the circuit

{{:parn_27_sept_scan_water_bis.jpg?nolink}}\\
First scan of the -- empty -- circuit

{{:parn_img_1786_small.jpg?nolink}}\\
30 sept -- 11:15

related: [[parn_project_lionel|PARN Project: Human-plant communication - research diary]]