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Title: Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF

Abstract

The tomato seeds were flown in orbit aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) for nearly six years. During this time, the tomato seeds received an abundant exposure to cosmic radiation and solar wind. Upon the return of the LDEF to earth, the seeds were distributed throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries for analysis. The purpose of the experiment was to determine the long term effect of cosmic rays on living tissue. Our university analysis included germination and growth rates as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray analysis of the control as well as Space-exposed tomato seeds. In analyzing the seeds under the Electron Microscope, usual observations were performed on the nutritional and epidermis layer of the seed. These layers appeared to be more porous in the Space-exposed seeds than on the Earth-based control seeds. This unusual characteristic may explain the increases in the space seeds growth pattern. (Several test results show that the Space-exposed seeds germinate sooner than the Earth-Based seeds. Also, the Space-exposed seeds grew at a faster rate). The porous nutritional region may allow the seeds to receive necessary nutrients and liquids more readily, thus enabling the plant to grow at a faster rate.more » Roots, leaves and stems were cut into small sections and mounted. After sputter coating the specimens with Argon/Gold Palladium Plasma, they were ready to be viewed under the Electron Microscope. Many micrographs were taken. The X-ray analysis displayed possible identifications of calcium, potassium, chlorine, copper, aluminum, silicon, phosphate, carbon, and sometimes sulfur and iron. The highest concentrations were shown in potassium and calcium. The Space-exposed specimens displayed a high concentration of copper and calcium in the two specimens. There was a significantly high concentration of copper in the Earth-based specimens, whereas there was no copper in the Space-exposed specimens.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
42750
Report Number(s):
N-95-23796; NASA-CP-3275-PT-1; L-17430A-PT-1; NAS-1.55:3275-PT-1; CONF-9311137-
TRN: 9523821
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. long duration exposure flight (LDEF) symposium, Williamsburg, VA (United States), 8-12 Nov 1993; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of LDEF: 69 Months in Space. Third Post-Retrieval Symposium, part 1; Levine, A.S.; PB: [10] p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; SEEDS; GERMINATION; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; TOMATOES; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SOLAR WIND; SPACE FLIGHT

Citation Formats

Hammond, Jr, E C, Bridgers, K, and Brown, C W. Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Hammond, Jr, E C, Bridgers, K, & Brown, C W. Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF. United States.
Hammond, Jr, E C, Bridgers, K, and Brown, C W. 1995. "Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF". United States.
@article{osti_42750,
title = {Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF},
author = {Hammond, Jr, E C and Bridgers, K and Brown, C W},
abstractNote = {The tomato seeds were flown in orbit aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) for nearly six years. During this time, the tomato seeds received an abundant exposure to cosmic radiation and solar wind. Upon the return of the LDEF to earth, the seeds were distributed throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries for analysis. The purpose of the experiment was to determine the long term effect of cosmic rays on living tissue. Our university analysis included germination and growth rates as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray analysis of the control as well as Space-exposed tomato seeds. In analyzing the seeds under the Electron Microscope, usual observations were performed on the nutritional and epidermis layer of the seed. These layers appeared to be more porous in the Space-exposed seeds than on the Earth-based control seeds. This unusual characteristic may explain the increases in the space seeds growth pattern. (Several test results show that the Space-exposed seeds germinate sooner than the Earth-Based seeds. Also, the Space-exposed seeds grew at a faster rate). The porous nutritional region may allow the seeds to receive necessary nutrients and liquids more readily, thus enabling the plant to grow at a faster rate. Roots, leaves and stems were cut into small sections and mounted. After sputter coating the specimens with Argon/Gold Palladium Plasma, they were ready to be viewed under the Electron Microscope. Many micrographs were taken. The X-ray analysis displayed possible identifications of calcium, potassium, chlorine, copper, aluminum, silicon, phosphate, carbon, and sometimes sulfur and iron. The highest concentrations were shown in potassium and calcium. The Space-exposed specimens displayed a high concentration of copper and calcium in the two specimens. There was a significantly high concentration of copper in the Earth-based specimens, whereas there was no copper in the Space-exposed specimens.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/42750}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}

Conference:
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