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Effects of Reduced Oxygen Tension on Vascular Plants
Author(s) -
Siegel S. M.
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1961.tb07914.x
Subject(s) - citation , white (mutation) , european union , carbide , library science , mathematics , computer science , chemistry , business , organic chemistry , international trade , biochemistry , gene
The existence of life under nonterrestrial conditions has been a subject of extended literary and scientific interest. Astronomy has provided a major part of the information about planetary conditions, and astronomers have dwelt upon the rigors of even the most favored extraterrestrial body, Mars, relative to the subsistence of terrestrial organisms.", 2 That earthly desert and alpine regions support a variety of complex life forms is well known, nevertheless, and one may doubt the impression conveyed by popular scientific accounts that higher terrestrial plants cannot survive in a Martian environment.3 During an extended study of vascular plant growth, development, and chemistry at subatmospheric oxygen levels. it was observed that germination and early seedling growth in a number of species commonly require far less than atmospheric levels of 02, and, in some instances, little or none.4-6 Recently, we have further noted that grains of Winter rye can germinate under atmospheric and other conditions which differ drastically from their familiar ones, and in some instances, more nearly resemble those on Alars." 2 Our experiments have thus far been limited to early seedling growth, but they suffice to bring out some of the capabilities of a terrestrial form under nonterrestrial conditions. Methods and Conditions.-Grains of Winter rye (Secale cereale "Winter") of the 1961 commercial crop were used in these experiments. Germination was carried out under laboratory conditions (22-240C under daylight fluorescent illumination of about 50 foot-candles) or as specified below. Experimental atmospheres were maintained in 4-liter glass bacteriological "anaerobic jars" each equipped with gassing valves and compound pressure gauge. Jars were generally purged with 5-10 volumes of the desired experimental gas and then sealed at 1-2 lb/in.2 gauge pressure except for the low-pressure terrestrial (0.03 atm, equivalent altitude > 60,000 ft) and low-pressure near-Martian atmospheres (0.1 atm" 2). The common gases used in these experiments were "Linde" 99.995% argon and 95%70 argon-5%, 02; "Matheson" 99.0% methane, 99.5%0 CO, 99.8%o C02, 98.0%0 N20, and 96%o COS; and K and K Laboratories 99%0 2-butene. A special composition designed to be reasonably representative of the Martian atmosphere was