title: Biological effects of galactic radiation HZE particles in experiments on the orbital station Salyut 7.
abstract: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds were flown on-board the orbital station Salyut 7 for 66-457 days.  It was found that a single heavy charged particle (HZE) hitting a seed only slightly affects the subsequent plant growth.  However, morphological anomalies of varying type in primordial leaves and roots were observed that show good correlation with the location of the particle track.  The most severe damage detected by light and an electron microscopy were "channels" in dry and soaked seeds.  The appearance of "channels" seems to be related to the LET of the incident particle.  This finding is of considerable importance for assessment of space flight radiation hazard.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Problems, USSR Ministry of Health, Moscow.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Nevzgodina
mesh_terms: D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018548:Cotyledon / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D018525:Germination / Q000528:radiation effects; D018545:Lactuca / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D018519:Meristem / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness