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Assessment of Programs in Space Biology and Medicine--1991 (1991) / Chapter Skim
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6. PLANT BIOLOGY
Pages 46-50

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From page 46...
... The 1979 report calls for studies on how plant cell polarity first develops and emphasizes the use of horizontal rotation as a substitute for microgravity. The 1987 strategy is a more comprehensive statement of experimental goals and recommendations related to the growth, development, and behavior of plants in space.
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From page 47...
... Particularly promising are recent experiments with auxin receptors and mutants with altered geotropic responses. It is reasonable to suppose that cloned genes for receptors will be available soon, and that genetic analysis of gravitropism will lead to an eventual understanding at the molecular level.
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From page 48...
... For example, the functions of cell membranes, the pathways for ion uptake and nutrient absorption, water relations, and the transport of organic and inorganic molecules must be investigated with regard to any ways by which they are affected by weightlessness. Some spaceflight results indicate that microgravity affects metabolic products in other ways as well.
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From page 49...
... PROGRESS Fragmentary Soviet experimentation involving growing plants (Arabidopsis) to the flowering stage in space indicates that reproductive events are most affected by microgravity; fruit set is decreased over ground controls and percent seed germination back on Earth is also below control levels.
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From page 50...
... An unprecedented goal of coupling engineering to plant production will demand reproducible data about plant performance in space and maximum rigorous scientific precision. In order to approach the goals mentioned above, and those previously emphasized in the 1987 and 1988 CSBM reports, the discipline of space plant biology must have available more frequent flight opportunities, much longer microgravity exposure, and on-orbit controls.
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Key Terms

  • plant growth
  • ground controls
  • horizontal rotation
  • life support
  • chromosome behavior

  • flight experiments
  • signal transduction
  • plant cell
  • affect plant
  • plant biology

  • plant responses
  • major goals
  • microgravity affects
  • microgravity effects
  • gravity sensing

  • flight opportunities
  • multiple generations
  • transduction mechanisms
  • plant anise
  • advance plant

  • plant performance
  • plant signal
  • plant capabilities
  • understand plant
  • plant production

  • space plant
  • plant hormone
  • plant gravitational
  • extent changes
  • bioregenerative life


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