ABSTRACT

With Earth facing challenges such as increased urbanization, land degradation, pollution, and population growth, the search for alternative human settlement sites has gained momentum. This study investigates the physiological and morphological responses of bean (phaseolus vulgaris) seedlings to a simulated microgravity environment using a clinical.  The research aims to understand the adaptive mechanisms of plant growth and development in conditions that mimic the microgravity found in space, with implications for future space agriculture and life support systems. The treatment used on the bean seedlings were water (H₂O) and Indole-3- acetic acid (IAA). The Seedlings were cultivated under a controlled environmental condition, with one group exposed to continuous rotation on a 2D clinostat to negate the directional influence of zero gravity, while a control group grew under normal gravitational conditions for 96 hours then it was transferred to the nursery for another 96 hours before transferring it to the field for further observation. The experiment revealed morphological changes in the bean seedlings exposed to microgravity. Broader leaves were observed, minimal difference in the number of leaves, and higher wert weight. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on plant responses to altered gravitational stimuli, offering insights critical for optimizing crop cultivation in extraterrestrial environment.