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Show AB The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Friday, June 14, 1996 USU Finds Fungus Fouled Seeds in Mir Experiment BYLEE SIEGEL vine Fewplant-growth experiments Utah State Universityscientists discovered that a sneaky, aggressive fungus contaminated wheat seeds the school shipped to NASA. scientists nationwide and that were planted last year on a space shuttle and Russia's Mir space station The unexpected fungal infection fouled USU's $150,000 wheat-growth experiment on a February 1995 shuttle flight by damaging leaves and roots, said molecular biology graduate student Deborah Bishop and pliant pathologyprofessor Anne Ander- son, who ran the experiment. Fungi also were spotted on wheatthat grew onboard Mirlast in space operate under such con- ditions, said Levine, who works for Dynamac Corp. at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The NASA contractor runs laboratories to support biology experiments on space shuttles. believes other space-wheat experiments could be affected if growing conditions are poor — conditions that should be avoided believes thefungi may have beenresponsi- ble for the failure of the wheat plants to develop seed-bearing heads, Scientists said they doubt the tainted seeds wrecked anyother experiments or would harman- other USU wheat-growth experi- ment that starts July 26 on Mir. even thoughthe 250 seeds sent to Mir in Marchalso may be contam- Bugbeesaid fungusis just anoth sent to Mir this y doesn't kn’ they wrote. “like putting some- the 1995 shuttle flight Bishop and son wanted tc study how ligni which makes plants stand straight — is deposit ed in wheat seedlings under low 2 those Salisbury if the gravity fungi will SAVE 25%”FINISHING" fre ¥ou Single? 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We had some occasions when the plants didn't do very well, but we hadn't thought the fungus was the cause.” Bishop and Anderson said the to protect against microbial attack when trying to grow food growth experiments are aimed at developing food sources for fu turespacestation inhabitants Cosper’s Christina Ricci $799 $329 Panasonic Palmcorde' team up for an exciting, Panasonic* 20 high-spirited adventure Big-time savings panablack 5 Reg. $899 \\ diag. TV Sig figs t resolution. for the entire family (NS veCy Staton re Ad Rig Sener CT20G21 May $389 Panasonic mini stereo system Reg. $429 5 GIGANTIC INVENTORY LIQUIDATION! We Are Making Room for New Arrivals rip fee ~~ Set of 4 Oak Chairs| y SUCH Panasonic 27 diag. 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But stresses in space can the to produce beenused t tomless to a pathogenic state Levine said infected seeds went to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Johnson Space Center fungi overwhelm plants stressful conditions in space. the Bugbee now pla ans change the fungus “from a symp- Lake City symposium of university students who received fellowships from the National Aeronau- contamination highlights the need ing microbes, and fed a sugarso: wheat seeds erson said USU plant physiologist Bruce on Earth. Bishop said Wednesdayat a Salt inated OnEarth, other soil microbes hold the fungi in check. Under grown in the absence of compet- sert Researchers initially didn't know about the contamination be cause the fu hid inside the dwarf wheat” seeds were “widely distributed to NASA centers.” in Texas and Ames Research Cen- Anderson ide, and inadequate light fungus, named Acremonium, is inactive when contaminated seeds are grown under normal conditions The contaminated ‘super ber on Mir, said Frank Salisbury However, particularly aggressive” body on a 500-calorie-a-day diet and sending them the de on the upcoming Mir experiment tics and Space Administration the USU plant physiologist in chargeof theproject was conducted by Bishop, Levine and Anderson. They said the Suchstresses include high humidity, high levels of carbon diox- Anderson, however, said she year. 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