Evaluating Differences in the Dynamic Growth Patterns of Cvi and Ler Genetic Strains of Arabidopsis During Seedling Establishment
Location
Oyate Hall
Event Website
https://2026undergraduateresearchsy.sched.com/event/2Ix8t/evaluating-differences-in-the-dynamic-growth-patterns-of-cvi-and-ler-genetic-strains-of-arabidopsis-during-seedling-establishment
Start Date
15-4-2026 6:00 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 8:00 PM
Description
Seedling establishment is the process by which seedlings transition from depending on seed nutrients to making their own through photosynthesis. An important aspect is photomorphogenesis, the growth of plants in response to light, transitioning from rapid embryonic stem growth to a slower rate focused on root growth and leaf formation. The process is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors, making better characterization essential to understand plant development. For our research, we examined the dynamic growth of two Arabidopsis genetic strains (Cvi and Ler) over time in response to darkness, then to the change in response when light is introduced. We wanted to evaluate growth with high sensitivity to the magnitude and timing of changes in growth rate by capturing time-lapse images of seedlings' responses and then using automated measurements to map embryonic stem growth over time, comparing when the rate decreased and the extent of growth fluctuations. This method provides more refined measurements than conventional methods, given that organisms are small and undergo many changes over a short period during seedling establishment. Initial findings indicate differences in growth patterns across genetic strains, but achieving consistent conditions and results is difficult due to environmental factors that introduce substantial uncertainty. Current work aims to minimize environmental influences while recording changes in temperature and humidity for comparison. By improving visualization and automated analysis, it provides more support for studying plant traits in real time.
Publication Date
2026
Evaluating Differences in the Dynamic Growth Patterns of Cvi and Ler Genetic Strains of Arabidopsis During Seedling Establishment
Oyate Hall
Seedling establishment is the process by which seedlings transition from depending on seed nutrients to making their own through photosynthesis. An important aspect is photomorphogenesis, the growth of plants in response to light, transitioning from rapid embryonic stem growth to a slower rate focused on root growth and leaf formation. The process is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors, making better characterization essential to understand plant development. For our research, we examined the dynamic growth of two Arabidopsis genetic strains (Cvi and Ler) over time in response to darkness, then to the change in response when light is introduced. We wanted to evaluate growth with high sensitivity to the magnitude and timing of changes in growth rate by capturing time-lapse images of seedlings' responses and then using automated measurements to map embryonic stem growth over time, comparing when the rate decreased and the extent of growth fluctuations. This method provides more refined measurements than conventional methods, given that organisms are small and undergo many changes over a short period during seedling establishment. Initial findings indicate differences in growth patterns across genetic strains, but achieving consistent conditions and results is difficult due to environmental factors that introduce substantial uncertainty. Current work aims to minimize environmental influences while recording changes in temperature and humidity for comparison. By improving visualization and automated analysis, it provides more support for studying plant traits in real time.
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/urs_event/2026/posters/8