Turkey's first space plant experiment

Published 2024년 11월 29일

Tridge summary

Turkish scientists, in collaboration with the Chinese National Space Administration and the Turkish Space Agency, have sent chickpea and Arabidopsis plant seeds into space on the 'Shijian-19' satellite to investigate and develop varieties resistant to disease and environmental stresses, such as drought. The seeds were exposed to cosmic radiation and microgravity for approximately 14 days, with the aim to create genetic diversity not possible on Earth. This research is supported by the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and involves a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, focusing on increasing the drought tolerance of Sarı-98 chickpea varieties.

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Original content

Turkish academics who designed the "Extremophyte" experiment conducted by Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı in space, sent chickpea and Arabidopsis (phenotype) plant seeds into space with the "Shijian-19" satellite of the China National Space Administration within the scope of the disease and environmental stress resistant variety development studies coordinated by the Turkish Space Agency. According to the statement made by Ege University (EU), Biology Department faculty members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rengin Özgür Uzilday and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Uzilday prepared the projects "Gene Discovery for ER Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana by Utilizing the Space Environment" and "Space Breeding to Increase Tolerance to Drought Stress in Chickpea". Within the scope of the project, chickpea and Arabidopsis plant seeds were sent to space with the "Shijian-19" satellite and remained in space for approximately 14 days. The seeds that returned to Earth via satellite were sent back to ...

Source: Sondakika