HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by HOCK, A. H. A. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by HOCK, A. H. A. B.

Chromosome mechanics of fungi under spaceflight conditions—tetrad analysis of two-factor crosses between spore color mutants of Sordaria macrospora

Technical University of Muenchen at Weihenstephan, Department of Botany, Freising, Germany

¹Correspondence: A. Hahn, Technical University of Muenchen at Weihenstephan, Department of Botany, Alte Akademie 12, D-85350 Freising, Germany. E-mail: aeh{at}weihenstephan.de

Spore color mutants of the fungus Sordaria macrospora Auersw. were crossed under spaceflight conditions on the space shuttle to MIR mission S/MM 05 (STS-81). The arrangement of spores of different colors in the asci allowed conclusions on the influence of spaceflight conditions on sexual recombination in fungi. Experiments on a 1-g centrifuge in space and in parallel on the ground were used for controls. The samples were analyzed microscopically on their return to earth. Each fruiting body was assessed separately. Statistical analysis of the data showed a significant increase in gene recombination frequencies caused by the heavy ion particle stream in space radiation. The lack of gravity did not influence crossing-over frequencies. Hyphae of the flown samples were assessed for DNA strand breaks. No increase in damage was found compared with the ground samples. It was shown that S. macrospora is able to repair radiation-induced DNA strand breaks within hours.—Hahn, A., Hock, B. Chromosome mechanics of fungi under spaceflight conditions—tetrad analysis of two-factor crosses between spore color mutants of Sordaria macrospora.

Key Words: fungal genetics • sexual recombination • radiation effects