Microgravity effects on pollen tube growth of Alstroemeria pelegrina species

Plants will be indispensable in BLSS (bioregenerative lifesupport systems) for long-term missions to the other planets because they can provide fresh oxygen and food for astronauts and absorb carbon dioxide via photosynthesis. Microgravity is a critical factor in plant growth during space flights. This research evaluated the effect of simulated microgravity on pollen germination of Alstroemeria pelegrina species in order to investigate the possibility of this species growing in the space environment. Methodologically, acetocarmine technique was used to estimate pollen viability. Pollens were germinated and grown on Poly-D-Lysine coated coverslips submerged in a thin layer of typical germination medium both at 1 g and on the clinostat (micro-g). After incubating for 6 h at room temperature, pollens were observed under an inverted microscope in order to detect the percentage of germination and the growth direction. Our results showed that these parameters under microgravity conditions were different from ones under normal 1g ground conditions. However, Gravity is a crucial stimulus for pollen tube growth and simulated microgravity affects numerous aspects of pollen tube development.

Keywords:

BLSS , Pollen , Germination , Microgravity , Coverslip , Plant