Phenotypic characteristics of the first generation mealycup sage (Salvia Farinacea Benth.) induced by space radiation

Published on Jun 23, 2018 12:00 PM

To explore the biological effects of the space radiation, dry
seeds of mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea Benth.) were flown
with the Chinese space craft “Shen Zhou VIII”. The plants
grown from the space exposed seeds displayed
considerable changes in phenotypic traits. Eleven space
exposed plants (EP) showed one month longer flowering
period than the mean of the control plants (CP); 13 EP
failed to flower and 23 bore flowers, within which 25 plants
mutated in respect of flower production; leaf shape of EP
showed two extremes: curling and folding, or totally
smooth; 11 EP had mutated height, within which 6 plants
were taller and 5 shorter than CP. These results demonstrated that space radiation could induce favorable mutations
on plant seeds.

Keywords: Mealycup sage, space radiation, phenotypic traits, mutants, variation

Info

Year: 2014
Volume: 74
Issue: 3
Article DOI: 10.5958/0975-6906.2014.00862.1
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906

Authors

Li Jin, Geng Jinpeng, Cao Tianguang, Yu Hui, Chen Yafei, An Hailong, Li Duofang, Wang Xuzhao, Hu Chu

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