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Modification of reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana under spaceflight conditionsReproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. cv. Columbia plants was investigated under spaceflight conditions on shuttle mission STS-51. Plants launched just prior to initiation of the reproductive phase developed flowers and siliques during the 10-d flight. Approximately 500 flowers were produced in total by the 12 plants in both the ground control and spaceflight material, and there was no significant difference in the number of flowers in each size class. The flower buds and siliques of the spaceflight plants were not morphologically different from the ground controls. Pollen viability tests immediately post-flight using fluorescein diacetate indicated that about 35% of the pollen was viable in the spaceflight material. Light-microscopy observations on this material showed that the female gametophytes also had developed normally to maturity. However, siliques from the spaceflight plants contained empty, shrunken ovules, and no evidence of pollen transfer to stigmatic papillae was found by light microscopy immediately post-flight or by scanning electron microscopy on fixed material. Short stamen length and indehiscent anthers were observed in the spaceflight material, and a film-like substance inside the anther that connected to the tapetum appeared to restrict the release of pollen from the anthers. These observations indicate that given appropriate growing conditions, early reproductive development in A. thaliana can occur normally under spaceflight conditions. On STS-51, reproductive development aborted due to obstacles in pollination or fertilization.
Document ID
20040089750
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Kuang, A.
(Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge 70803, United States)
Musgrave, M. E.
Matthews, S. W.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Planta
Volume: 198
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0032-0935
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG10-0075
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT5-1097
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
manned
Non-NASA Center
STS-51 Shuttle Project
NASA Program Space Biology
short duration
NASA Discipline Plant Biology
STS-54 Shuttle Project
NASA Discipline Number 40-50
Flight Experiment

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