Space Plants

        The effects of gravity on plants roots are vey important, because it allows the roots to orient themselves to grow away from the seed and seek out nutrients and water. So when scientist sent germinated seeds of a small, white flower called Arabidopsis thaliana to the International Space Station, to find how a weightless environment effects root growth, they found that the pattern of root growth is exactly the same as those observed with gravity. What scientist believe is that the plants have the ability to orient themselves because they still retain an earthly instinct even when they do not have gravity as a guide.
        The International Space Station was orbiting 220 miles above earth, and where scientist believed that roots behaved in a way of "skewing," where the roots slant progressively as they branch out due to the effects of gravity, they also found that the plants still obtained this trait even with out the cues of gravity. So what scientist believe to be the cause of the phenomenon is that it is a result of other cues, such as moisture, nutrients and light avoidance, that takes over the ability of the plant to direct its roots away from the seed and light-seeking shoot. These findings may enable us to cultivate plant growth in space and eventually on other planets. In my opinion, the results of this research will allow us to continue to make strides in our understanding of space and of spaces biological effects on, not only, of what is of our world but of other worlds as well, and how our biology can help us understand the biological processes that are found on other worlds.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/121207-plants-grow-space-station-science/

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/12/232/abstract