Page 32 - through Clusters and Networks

getting

up-close

Roots spread out under the ground growing millions of tiny hair that absorbs
nutrients from the soil. They grow downwards to maximize their water uptake,
however it is gravity that has been found to be profoundly influencing on plant
growth as well. Roots grow away from light; this plant response is also referred
to as gravitropism.

They create this complex network, always busy with plant sustenance work
from under the ground. I wondered what would it be, if root structure were to
be seen upside down. Under an environment of controlled culturing and with
help of lab apparatus, I was able to get a glimpse of that and could document it.
It appeared almost like sparks in a scrying crystal ball to begin with and went
on to iterating several diverse patterns in process. The architecture and
aesthetics of each design by itself is awe-inspiring and the possibilities
around these designs can be infinite.

Another aspect of imaging, alongside the roots, was in plant sections. It was
like scratching the surface and knocking doors to the micro worlds through a
100 m (micrometer) section of organic material. We reached deep enough to
the cellular structures and colour pigments in leaves. These were beginnings
that led to the Scanning Electron Microscopy; possibilities around which was
the realization that I had barely touched the tip of the iceberg in my quest to Root filaments (rice plant shoot)
the micro journey so far.

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