Biological experiments on the orbital station Salyut 4

Two series of experiments were carried out on the orbital station Salyut 4: one series consisted of two experiments (30 and 62 days respectively) designed to study the effect of space-flight factors on the growth and development of Drosophila melanogaster, strain D-32, and the second series consisted of two experiments (24-33 days) designed to study the effect of space-flight factors on the growth and development of the dwarf pea, variety "Pioneer". Analysis of the progeny from flies exposed to space flight showed an increase in the rate of visible mutations for y, ct, w and vg loci over those observed in the earth control. Space flight factors produced no noticeable effect on the first growth stages of pea plants. Later on growth stopped and most of the plants died under weightless conditions at the age of 2-3 weeks. Possible causes of their death during flight are discussed on the basis of anatomo-morphological, cytological and biochemical analyses of experimental and control plants.