Gravitropic Analysis of Tomato Seedlings using Time Lapse Video Imaging

Materials and Reagents

1. Tomato seeds (Cultivar Arka Vikas)
   
2. Sodium hypochlorite (Thermo Fisher Scientific, catalog number: 27096 )
   
3. Agar (HIMEDIA, catalog number: PCT0901 )
   
4. Distilled water
   
5. 0.8% (w/v) agar (see Recipes)
   

Equipment

1. Blue light (An alternate light source can also be used) for gravitropic analysis was obtained from blue LEDs (Light Emitting diodes, λ_max 470 nm, Kwality Photonics). Photon fluence of light was measured with a light meter fitted with a Quantum sensor (Skye Instruments, UK).
   
2. Spectrum of the blue light was measured using spectroradiometer purchased from International Light Technologies (model: RPS900W)
   
3. Quickcam Pro 3000 or 4000 (Logitech) or any other suitable webcam for recording the response
   
4. Germination paper (locally purchased) or blotting paper or Whatman paper
   
5. Square germination boxes (dimension 10 x10 x 6 cm, Laxbro) / or square petriplates
   
6. Square petriplate (dimension 12x12x2 cm, Genaxy, model: GEN-PTD-130SQ)
   
7. Forceps from Pro’Kit^® 1PK-125T (dimension 12 x1 x 4 cm)
   

Software

1. SigmaPlot 10.0 (http://www.sigmaplot.com/products/sigmaplot/sigmaplot-details.php)
   
2. ImageJ (http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/)
   
3. Timelapse (http://tnlsoftsolutions.com/timelapsehome.php)
   

Procedure