The plant Astronaut Gezeravcı took to space: ‘Schrenkiella parvula’

Prof. Dr. Yavuz Bağcı, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Selçuk University (SÜ) and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, stated that they had previously observed Schrenkiella parvula during floristic and endemic studies, particularly around Lake Tuz, and noted that it is a plant highly resistant to abiotic stress, such as salt and difficult conditions like drought and soil characteristics.

The experiment titled “Extremophyte,” designed by a three-person team including Prof. Dr. İsmail Türkan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies at Yaşar University, was sent to space with astronaut Alper Gezeravcı. Whether ‘Schrenkiella parvula,’ a plant found in Lake Tuz that is resistant to high-salinity environments, can maintain its tolerance to high salinity under microgravity conditions will be investigated in the ‘Extremophyte’ experiment that Turkey’s first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, will conduct in space. To this end, after the plant samples are brought back from space, various molecular studies will be conducted on them by the same team. Within the framework of the “Extremophyte” experiment, which will continue in Turkey after being carried out in space, the goal is to reveal the interaction between the plant’s tolerance to high salinity and microgravity.

"HIGHLY RESISTANT TO SALT AND DIFFICULT CONDITIONS SUCH AS DROUGHT, SOIL CHARACTERISTICS, AND ABIOTIC STRESS"

Following the announcements regarding the experiment, the ‘Schrenkiella parvula’ plant became a subject of curiosity. Prof. Dr. Yavuz Bağcı, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Selçuk University (SÜ) and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, stated that Schrenkiella parvula is a plant they are familiar with, noting that they had seen it during their floristic and endemic plant studies, particularly at Lake Tuz. Stating that Schrenkiella parvula belongs to the Brassicaceae/Mustard family, Prof. Dr. Bağcı used the following expressions:

"It is called endemic, but it is not an endemic plant. It has a distribution range extending from Lake Tuz to Russia and China. It is a special plant. Although the plant was previously named Arabidopsis parvula, it was renamed Schrenkiella parvula in 2010 as a result of studies conducted by German and Al-Shehbaz in the Nordic Journal of Botany (2010). It has many synonyms, but it was chosen because it is highly resistant to salt and certain difficult conditions, as well as abiotic stress.

We did not conduct the studies on this ourselves, but we saw the plant during our floristic studies and some of our work on endemism, especially at Lake Tuz. The characteristics of this plant are that it is an annual, grows easily, and is more resistant to extreme conditions compared to other plants. Of course, there may be other plants like this, but since there is a lot of research on genomes in the field of biology regarding Arabidopsis thaliana, this plant may have been chosen because it belongs to the same relative group. Arabidopsis thaliana is a type of cress. Native to Eurasia and Africa, this plant is related to cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, as well as mustard greens. Because it is small and easy to grow, it is one of the most frequently used model organisms in the world by scientists for plant biology. In this way, scientists have gained knowledge about the appearance of the plant’s genes and its behavior under different conditions.

But if there are similar plants in the future, they could also be chosen. This plant is truly resistant to extreme conditions. I hope the studies conducted are successful, and if they are, I hope our scientists will achieve even better results in the future. We are not strangers to the plant; we know it, but I think that if the studies are generally combined in the physiological, molecular, and biotechnological fields and conducted in a multidisciplinary manner, healthier results can be obtained in the future.”

Underlining that the Schrenkiella parvula sent to space has special significance, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Bağcı said, “It is referred to as the Extremophyte experiment. When we look at extremophyte plants, this plant was chosen because it lives in difficult conditions and is resistant to both salty and other harsh environments. It is an accurate choice, but as mentioned in the media, our plant is not endemic. In studies conducted, there is a soil structure called regolith, especially on the Moon and Mars. This feature of the plant could be used in bases to be established on other planets for the improvement of regolith (Moon and Mars soil) with high salt and metal content, and for the purification of various astronaut wastes. The plant is also tolerant to elements such as lithium and boron, in addition to sodium chloride. Extremophytes are known as plants that have evolved to thrive in environments characterized by high degrees of abiotic stress. Since that soil structure resembles the conditions at Lake Tuz, perhaps the plant was chosen for that reason, but I hope that studying these results from physiological, molecular, and many other aspects, and working as a team, will accelerate these findings, God willing.”

"I believe it will create an advantageous situation”

Regarding what contributions the space experiment and subsequent studies on the Schrenkiella parvula plant might have for Lake Tuz and its surroundings, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Bağcı said, "If successful results are obtained, the region is already being evaluated for eco-tourism, but unfortunately, we cannot promote our region very much. Looking at it from that perspective, it might be important in terms of seeing that plant, or cultivating it, or protecting it in the area where it grows, and introducing it to people. It is not an endemic plant, but we can call it a rare plant. It is a plant that grows in Turkey only in saline areas, specifically at Lake Tuz. When we look at it from this aspect, I believe it will create an advantageous situation,” he said.