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====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===

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The idea is to carve 1mm deep grooves in a transparent layer. By adding another layer on it, the grooves becomes channels.

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A first, simple pattern for the channels (.xls drawing)

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The pattern was grooved in a plexiglas plate by lasercut

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Glass pipes connect the circuit with water stocks

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A seed is inserted on the 'input' side of the circuit

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First scan of the -- empty -- circuit

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