Influence of a long duration exposure, 69 months, to the space flight factors in Artemia cysts, tobacco and rice seeds

• Published in: Advances in space research Vol. 14; no. 10; pp. 21 - 32
• Main Authors: Planel, H., Gaubin, Y., Pianezzi, B., Delpoux, M., Bayonove, J., Bès, J.C., Heilmann, C., Gasset, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Artemia - embryology; Artemia - genetics; Artemia - radiation effects; Cosmic Radiation; Gamma Rays; Germination - radiation effects; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - growth & development; Nicotiana - radiation effects; Oryza - genetics; Oryza - growth & development; Oryza - radiation effects; Plants, Toxic; Seeds - radiation effects; Space Flight - instrumentation; Spacecraft; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/0273-1177(94)90446-4

Three french laboratories have participated in the Free Flyer Biostack experiment. Artemia cysts, tobacco seeds and rice caryopsis and embryos were used. Biological objects in monolayers were dead. In opposite, a large fraction of samples used in bulk survived. A stimulatory effect occurred in the first steps of development in Artemia cysts. In fact, the larval survival was unchanged or slightly reduced. In tobacco a drastic decrease in germination and survival rate was observed. Space flight did not induce genetic changes. In rice, results depend on the variety which was investigated; the growth rate stimulation in flight samples is discussed with respect to controls.