Changes in isoenzymes and amino acids in forage and germination of the first post‐flight generation of seeds of three legume species after space flight

Abstract

Seeds of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Astragalus adsurgens Pall. were put into and recovered from earth orbit from China in 1994. The isoenzymes in leaves and flowers and amino acids in leaves of the first post‐flight generation of plants were analysed. Germination of their seeds under NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) stress were tested. The results showed that space flight caused some changes in the pattern of peroxidase and esterase in sainfoin and A. adsurgens, and variation in amylase patterns in leaves of alfalfa. The total amino acid content increased in sainfoin and alfalfa leaves. Under salt and water stress, the proportion of progeny seeds of alfalfa and A. adsurgens, respectively, germinating after 7 and 18 days’ imbibition was not markedly different between treatment and control. However, the progeny seeds of sainfoin which had been in orbit exhibited higher tolerance to NaCl and PEG stress during germination.