DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY OF ARTEMIA CYSTS AND LETTUCE SEEDS FLOWN IN COSMOS-936 AND DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO COSMIC-RAYS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (2) , 134-138
Abstract
Developmental capacity of Artemia salina cysts and chromosomal aberration frequency in lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa), flown aboard Cosmos 936 were investigated. Biological objects were located inside or outside the spacecraft. Lettuce seeds were stuck on plastic plates and sandwiched in cellulose sheets to discriminate the objects hit by the cosmic heavy ions from the ones not hit. The absorbed dose inside the spacecraft was about 650 mrad. Biological objects were located at different levels in the outside container; absorbed doses were 1.5 rad for lettuce seed and 30 rad for Artemia cysts. There was no change in hatchability of Artemia cysts located inside or outside the spacecraft when eggs were tested 2-4 mo. after recovery, but a marked decrease was observed in eggs 9 mo. after the space flight. Survival of larvae and adults was normal in inside eggs, but decreased in outside eggs. Space flight also resulted in a higher frequency of single chromosomal aberrations in cells developed from inside and outside, hit and non-hit seeds. The highest percentage of multiple chromosomal aberrations occurred in seeds hit by the heavy ions.

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