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Protocols for Obtaining Zygotic and Somatic Embryos for Studying the Regulation of Early Embryo Development in the Model Legume Medicago truncatula
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Plants and somatic embryos in space: what have we learned?
1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.
Gravitational and Space Biology Bulletin : Publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology
|September 7, 2001
Summary
Spaceflight can cause chromosomal abnormalities in plants due to combined stresses. Larger genomes and less complex systems show greater vulnerability to space-induced cell stress.
Area of Science:
- Space biology
- Plant science
- Cellular biology
Background:
- Spaceflight alters cellular processes, including cell division, development, and growth.
- Chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities are frequently observed in plants exposed to space environments.
- These abnormalities are attributed to a combination of biological status and environmental stresses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To harmonize disparate results from various space experiments on plant growth.
- To understand the factors influencing space-induced cell stress and genomic variations in plants.
- To identify optimal conditions for studying direct versus indirect effects of space on plant biology.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plant species grown in space, with a focus on in vitro systems and developing embryoids.
- Evaluation of the relationship between system development, morphological complexity, and cell stress.
- Investigation of genome size (karyotype) and its influence on space stress tolerance.
- Assessment of single versus multiple stress interactions in space.
Main Results:
- More developed systems exhibit less cell stress; less complex systems are more vulnerable.
- Plants with larger genomes (polyploids) demonstrate increased tolerance to space stress.
- Adverse responses to space stress require severe conditions or amplifying biological parameters.
- Interactions between "stress matches" and non-equilibrium determinants can lead to genomic variations.
Conclusions:
- Space-induced cell abnormalities in plants are multifactorial, depending on pre-existing stresses and system biology.
- Genome size and developmental complexity are critical variables in plant responses to spaceflight.
- Controlled growing environments are essential to differentiate direct from indirect space effects.
- Understanding space-specific physico-chemical phenomena is key for optimizing space biology research.
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