PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S ): Thomas D. Rogers, Margaret E. Brower, and Gerald 



R. Taylor 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : Zone-Forming Fungi, MA- 147 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Apollo-Soyuz Test Project 



CLASSIFICATION : Microorganism - Fungi ( Streptomyces levoris ) 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Cell biology, Chronobiology 



OBJECTIVES : To study alternating vegetative mycelial and spore ring 

 periodicity during space flight. 



PROTOCOL : Cultures were initiated by single point inoculation of spores on an 

 agar-based medium in 60 by 5-mm petri dishes F-6. Phasing was accomplished in 

 both the U.S. and U.S.S.R. by using a 12-hour light-dark period (100 to 200 

 lux). Cultures were selected and placed in space flight devices F-2 for U.S. 

 samples and day of launch for U.S.S.R. samples. Two cultures were flown and 

 two were used as ground controls. Cultures were maintained at 300K in an 

 incubator during the entire experiment. Spore ring morphology was 

 periodically documented by inflight photography. 



EQUIPMENT : Radiation detectors of Lexan and cellulose acetate, petri dishes, 

 incubator, camera. 



RESULTS : A decreased growth-rate periodicity was observed inflight. One of 

 the four cultures grown in the reduced temperature environment of the Apollo 

 spacecraft had a growth rate more rapid than ground controls. Three of the 

 space flight cultures developed double spore rings during the period 

 immediately after flight. An absence of spores in portions of one ring was 

 noted. No visible evidence of wedges in the cultures that would suggest 

 occurring or radiation induced mutagenic alteration was observed. 



CONCLUSIONS : Space flight did not affect the biorhythm of Streptomyces 

 levoris negative and spore phases. However, the extent to which these 

 cultures were affected cannot be accurately determined because of the action 

 of such variables as temperature, nutritional medium, and the physical force 

 factors associated with the launch and recovery process. 



PUBLICATIONS : 448, 449, 450, 505 



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