Phenotypic characteristics of the first generation mealycup sage (Salvia Farinacea Benth.) induced by space radiation

To explore the biological effects of the space radiation, dry seeds of mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea Benth.) were flown with the Chinese space craft “Shen Zhou VIII”. The plants grown from the space exposed seeds displayed considerable changes in phenotypic traits. Eleven space exposed plants (EP) showed one month longer flowering period than the mean of the control plants (CP); 13 EP failed to flower and 23 bore flowers, within which 25 plants mutated in respect of flower production; leaf shape of EP showed two extremes: curling and folding, or totally smooth; 11 EP had mutated height, within which 6 plants were taller and 5 shorter than CP. These results demonstrated that space radiation could induce favorable mutations on plant seeds.