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Spaceflight reduces somatic embryogenesis in orchardgrass (Poaceae)
B V Conger1, Z Tomaszewski, J K McDaniel
1Department of Plant and Soil Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901-1071, USA. congerbv@utk.edu
Plant, Cell & Environment
|September 7, 2001
Summary
Spaceflight significantly reduced somatic embryogenesis in orchard-grass by 70% when initiated just before launch. Microgravity appears to affect early cell divisions, impacting plant development for future space colonization.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Space biology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Somatic embryogenesis is crucial for plant propagation in vitro.
- Orchard-grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) can initiate somatic embryos from mesophyll cells.
- Understanding plant responses to spaceflight is vital for long-term missions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of spaceflight on somatic embryogenesis in orchard-grass.
- To determine if microgravity influences early embryonic cell division and polarity.
Main Methods:
- Orchard-grass leaf segments were cultured in vitro.
- Segments were exposed to varying pre-flight plating periods (21 d to 21 h) before an 11-day spaceflight (STS-64).
- Embryogenesis rates and early cell division patterns (anticlinal:periclinal) were analyzed and compared to ground controls.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in embryogenesis was observed between 14-day and 21-day preplating periods.
- Embryogenesis was reduced by 70% (P=0.0001) in segments plated only 21 hours before launch.
- A higher ratio of anticlinal:periclinal divisions in flight-treated tissue suggests microgravity impacts early axis determination.
Conclusions:
- Initiating somatic embryogenesis immediately prior to spaceflight severely inhibits development in orchard-grass.
- Microgravity affects fundamental early stages of embryo development, including cell division orientation.
- These findings have implications for seed production and plant cultivation in space.