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Post by paquebot on Jan 17, 2008 0:49:05 GMT -5
In 1984, 12.5 million tomato seeds were sent into space and returned in 1989. They were then distributed to schools throughout the country. A gardener is going to send me some seeds that he saved from the fruit of his child's plant. They're about 15-16 years old but always a chance that I can get one to germinate. Does anyone know what the variety was?
Martin
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Post by grunt on Jan 17, 2008 2:06:39 GMT -5
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Post by flowerpower on Jan 17, 2008 6:46:54 GMT -5
I didn't know seeds were sent in '84. I heard about '05. Maybe they should leave some seed at the Int'l Space Station for a more extended time.
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Post by paquebot on Jan 17, 2008 12:39:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. That's SSE tomato #484 but no reference to their seed having come from the space batch, only Park's. If nothing else comes of my germination efforts, we at least now know the name of it.
Martin
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Post by Alan on Jan 17, 2008 13:33:21 GMT -5
I remember hearing about the one in '05. Is there any good reason for doing this? Any experimental data on the effects of space and zero gravity and it's effect on germination. I mean it sounds cool and all, I'd just like to know what the purpose was.
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Post by kctomato on Jan 17, 2008 14:30:08 GMT -5
I remember hearing about the one in '05. Is there any good reason for doing this? Any experimental data on the effects of space and zero gravity and it's effect on germination. I mean it sounds cool and all, I'd just like to know what the purpose was. It was also inpart to find out if the radiation they received in space (within the shuttle) would cause any mutations and to connect the experiment to teach kids science. There seemed to be no discernable mutations beyond the expected (they should have sent them to Albany instead where the rate is much higher *smile*). Lots of the work on plants focused on how to get them to grow in micro gravity environments and what effects that had. I believe others at Iowa and Wisconsin worked on actual systems to do so whereas others worked on the physiology. I knew several of the NASA researchers who worked with the zero gravity research. Very heady, complex physiology and physics involved - in short I dont remember (on purpose!) but know where to look it up. The ones I knew in case someone is interested in looking up their work:
Dr Peter Wong had some really cool mutant peas with roots that did not grow down (they displayed negative geotrophism). The roots were apparently not getting the signal by gravity to grow downward and grew out of the pots. So their was interest in what mechanism was causing that and if that had implications for adapting plants to microgravity.
Dr James Guikema was working on water potentials across membranes (would water and mineral uptake across cell membranes or artifical membranes be effected by zero gravity or micro gravity environments).
I believe Brian Spooner was another from that group.
Jim rocks and I miss him. Kinda of the mad scientist type who scared undergrads, wore Birkenstocks in the winter (probably because he was always in the lab overnight) and began each class with the Paul Harvey quote "Hello Americans". Best test giver I had in college. Do NOT let Jim start pouring mescal samples from his trip to Mexico for you! I think he's a Dean or Provost or something now.
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Post by Alan on Jan 17, 2008 14:37:45 GMT -5
Wow, thanks a lot for the information and that is all very interesting reading which definetly lends itself to further research from myself, very cool indeed. Thanks once again!
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Post by doccat5 on Jan 17, 2008 17:52:55 GMT -5
How neat is that? I hope you get good germination. That's fascinating, you jogged my memory and I do remember hearing about the early project.
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