[Effect of space flight on ultrastructure in medicinal plant Datura innoxia Mill].
OBJECTIVE
To substantiate the effect of space environment on medicinal plants.


METHODS
The seeds of Datura innoxia were set up in retrievable satellites. After returning to earth, the ultrastructural changes were observed by means of electron microscope.


RESULTS
In cells of weightless group and hit group, some changes were found in chloroplast grana, starch grains and vesicles in chloroplasts. No obvious changes were observed in nuclei.


CONCLUSIONS
Space environment has some effect on the ultrastructure in D. innoxia, and chloroplast is more sensitive to space environment than other organs.
Gao
W
W
Institute of Medicinal Plants, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094.
Zhao
S
S
Xue
L
L
Quan
L
L
Fu
R
R
Xiao
P
P
D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D032302:Datura / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D020450:Heavy Ions; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness